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ill 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

RIVERSIDE 

GIFT  OF 


Amy    M.   Ross 


From  an  Engraving  by  Gustave  Levy 

BONAPARTE  AS  GENERAL-IN-CHIEF  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  ITALY 


RECOLLECTIONS 

OF 

THE     PRIVATE     LIFE 

OF 

1        NAPOLEON 

B? 

CONSTANT 

Premier  Valet  de  Chambre 

TRANSLATED  BY  WALTER  CLARK 


VOLUME  II. 


"Cbe  Saalfielo  pub.  Co. 

NEW  YORK  AKRON,  OHIO  CHICAGO 

1911 


Copyright,  1895 
By  The  Merriam  Company 


Copyright,  1904 
By  The  Saalfield  Publishing  Company 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 


VOLUME   n. 
CHAPTER  I. 


Success  crowns  his  arms.  —  General  Beaumont.  —  Colonel  (now  general) 
Ge"rard. —  One  hundred  and  forty  flags  captured  from  the  enemy. — 
General  Savary,  Marshal  Mortier,  and  Prince  Murat. — Departure  from 
Berlin. — Grand  Marshal  Duroc  hreaks  his  collar-bone. — Stay  of  the 
Emperor  at  Warsaw.  —  Enthusiasm  of  the  Polish  nobility.  —  The  Em- 
peror sees  Madame  Valevska  for  the  first  time.  —  Description  of  that 
lady.  — Agitation  of  the  Emperor.  —  Singular  mission  confided  to  a  great 
personage.  —  First  advances  of  the  Emperor  rejected.  —  Confusion  of  the 
ambassador.  —  Preoccupation  of  his  Majesty.  —  Correspondence.  —  Con- 
sent.—  First  rendezvous.  — Madame  Valevska  goes  to  the  headquarters 
at  Finkenstein.  —  Madame  Valevska's  affection  for  the  Emperor.  —  Meals 
taken  tete-a-tete.  —  Constant  alone  attends  them.  —  Conversation.  —  Oc- 
cupation of  Madame  Valevska  when  not  in  the  Emperor's  presence. 
—  Gentle  and  equable  temperament  of  Madame  Valevska.  —  Madame 
Valevska  at  Schoenbrunn  with  the  Emperor.  — Mysterious  business  com- 
mitted to  Constant.  — The  rain  and  tho  ruts.  —  Anxiety  and  suggestions 
of  the  Emperor. — The  carriage  upset.  —  A  dangerous  fall.  —  Constant 
supporting  Madame  Valevska. — Attentions  lavished  on  Madame  Valev- 
ska by  the  Emperor. — The  small  hotel  of  la  Chaussee-d'Antin.  —  Vol- 
untary seclusion  of  Madame  Valevska.  —  Birth  of  a  son.  —  Joy  of  Napo- 
leon. —  The  new-born  babe  made  a  count.  —  Madame  Valevska  carries 
her  son  to  the  Emperor.  — The  young  count  saved  by  Doctor  Corvisart.  — 
The  hair,  the  ring,  and  the  motto.  —  The  La  Vallicre  of  the  empire,  and 
the  favorites  of  the  conqueror  of  Austerlitz Pages  19-25. 

CHAPTER  II. 

The  campaign  in  Poland.  —  The  battle  of  Eylau.  —  Te  Deum  and  De  profun- 
dis. — Involuntary  detention  of  the  Prince  de  Ponte-Corvo. — Generals 
d'Hautpoult,  Corbineau,  and  Boursier  fatally  wounded.  —  Courage  and 
death  of  General  d'Hautpoult. —The  bon  coup  of  General  Ordener. — 
Presentiment  of  General  Corbineau. — Money  from  the  private  purse  of 

3 


4  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

the  Emperor  advanced  to  General  Corbineau  a  few  moments  before  his 
death.  —  Enthusiasm  of  the  Poles. — Dissatisfaction  of  the  French. — 
Anecdotes.  —  The  basis  of  the  Polish  language.  —  Misery  and  gayety. — 
Hilarity  of  the  soldiers  excited  by  a  reply  of  the  Emperor.  — The  Persian 
ambassador.  —  Envoy  of  General  Gardanne  to  Persia.  — Treasure  not  re- 
covered.—  The  Emperor's  stay  at  Finkenstein.  —  The  Emperor  cheats 
at  vingt-et-un.  —  The  Emperor  dividing  his  gains  with  Constant. — 
Amusements  of  the  grand  officers  of  the  Emperor.  —  Bet  won  by  the 

Duke  of  Vicenza.  —  Mystification   of   Monsieur   B.   d'A .  —  Prince 

Jerome  in  love  with  an  actress  of  Breslau. — Marriage  of  the  actress 
to  the  prince's  valet  de  chambre.  — Favor  and  jealousy.  —  The  brothers 
of  the  Emperor.  —  The  Emperor  loving  and  scolding  his  brothers.  — 
Marshal  Lefebvre  made  Duke  of  Dantzig  by  the  Emperor.  — Anecdote 
of  Dantzig  chocolate.  —  Battle  of  Friedland;  coincidence  of  dates. — 
High  spirits  of  the  Emperor  during  the  battle.  —  Peace  with  Russia. — 
Interview  of  the  Emperor  and  the  Czar  at  Tilsit. — The  King  and  Queen 
of  Prussia. — Gallantry  and  severity  of  Napoleon.  —  Rudeness  of  Grand 
Duke  Constantine.  —  Military  banquet.  —  Concert  by  Baskir  musicians. 

—  Visit  of  Constant  to  the  Baskirs. — Meal  a  la  Cossack.  —  Shooting 
with  the  bow.  —  Constant  successful.  —  Striking  souvenir. — Muscovite 
soldier  decorated  by  the  Emperor  Napoleon.  —  Return  through  Bautzen 
and  Dresden,  and  re-entry  into  France Pages  26-42. 

CHAPTER   III. 

Death  of  the  young  Napoleon,  son  of  the  King  of  Holland.  —  Lovely  dispo- 
sition of  this  child.  —  Weakness  of  the  nurse,  and  firmness  of  the  young 
prince. —  Submissiveness  of  the  young  prince  to  the  Emperor.  —  His 
affection  for  the  Emperor.  —  An  attractive  family  portrait.  —  The  shoe- 
maker, and  the  portrait  of  my  Uncle  Bibiche. —  The  gazelles  of  Saints 
Cloud.  —  The  King  and  Queen  of  Holland  reconciled  by  the  young 
Napoleon.  —  The  Emperor's  affection  for  his  nephew.  —  The  designated 
heir  of  the  Empire.  —  Predictions  of  misfortune.  —  First  ideas  of  divorce. 

—  Grief  of  the  Empress  Josephine  on  the  death  of  the  young  Napoleon. 

—  Despair  of  Queen  Hortense.  —  The  suggestion  of  a  chamberlain.  — 
Universal  sorrow  caused  by  the  death  of  the  young  prince  .     Pages  43-49. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Return  from  the  campaign  of  Prussia  and  Poland.  —  Restoration  of  the 
chateau  of  Rambouillet.  —  Portraits  in  the  bathroom.  —  Surprise  and 
disgust  of  the  Emperor.  —  Stay  of  the  count  at  Fontainebleau. — Un- 
just demands  of  innkeepers.  —  Extortion  upon  travelers. — Cardinal  Ca- 
prara  and  bouillon  at  six  hundred  francs.  — Fixed  charges  ordered  by  the 
Emperor. — Arrival  at  Pails  of  Princess  Catherine  of  Wiirtemberg. — 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  5 

Marriage  of  this  princess  to  the  King  of  Westphalia. —  Relations  of 
King  Jerome  towards  his  first  wife.  —  The  valet  de  chambre  Rico  sent 
to  America.  — Affection  of  the  queen  of  "Westphalia  for  her  husband.— 
The  queen's  letter  to  her  father.  —  Arrest  of  the  queen  by  the  Marquis 
de  Maubreuil.  —  Robbery  of  diamonds.  —  Presents  of  the  Czar  to  the 
Emperor. — Promenades  of  the  Emperor  at  Fontainebleau.  — Kindness 
shown  by  the  Emperor  and  Empress  to  an  old  clergyman,  and  the 
Emperor's  conversation  with  this  old  man. — The  Cardinal  de  Belloy, 
Archbishop  of  Paris. —  Touching  address  of  a  prelate,  who  was  almost  a 
centenarian.  —  The  Emperor's  hunt.  —  Costume  and  hunting  equipages. 

—  Gallant  intrigue  of  the  Emperor  at  Fontainebleau.  —  Mysterious  com- 
mission given  to  Constant  in  the  darkness. — Unsuccessful  embassy. — 
The  Emperor's  gayety.  —  The  Emperor  guided  by  Constant  in  the 
darkness.  —  Jests  and  thanks  of  the  Emperor.  —  Sudden  coolness  of  the 
Emperor. — Theater  at  Fontainebleau. — Misadventure  of  Mademoiselle 
Mars.  —  Loss  promptly  repaired ...    Pages  50-59. 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Emperor's  journey  to  Italy.  —  Short  time  for  preparation.  —  Complete 
services  sent  in  various  directions.  —  Bedroom  furniture  while  on  the 
journey.  —  Constant  inseparable  from  the  Emperor.  —  Provision  wagon  in 
the  kitchen  service.  —  The  appointed  order  of  the  Emperor's  meals  while 
traveling.  —  The  Emperor's  breakfast  in  the  open  air.  —  The  former 
officers  of  the  king's  kitchen  in  the  service  of  the  Emperor.  —  M.  Colin 
and  M.  Pfister.  — Messieurs  Soupe'  and  Pierrugues.  — Unexpected  arrival 
of  the  Emperor  at  Milan. — Improvised  illumination.  —  Joy  of  Prince 
Eugene  and  the  Milanese. — Affection  and  respect  of  the  Emperor  for 
the  vice-queen.  —  Constant  complimented  by  the  vice-king.  —  The 
Emperor  at  the  theater  of  la  Scala.  —  Passage  through  Brescia  and 
Verona. — Appearance  of  Lombardy.  —  Constant's  dread  of  official  ha- 
rangues. —  Races  at  Vicenza.  —  The  Emperor  an  early  riser  while  travel- 
ling.—  Rice  fields.  —  Picturesque  landscapes Pages  60-67. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Arrival  at  Fusina.  —  The  peote  and  gondolas  of  Venice.  —  The  appearance  of 
Venice. —Salutes  by  the  Emperor. — Entrance  of  the  Imperial  cortege 
on  the  Grand  Canal.  —  Gardens  and  groves  improvised  by  the  Emperor. 

—  A  sight  new  to  the  Venetians.  —  Conversation  of  the  Emperor  with 
the  vice-king  and  the  grand  marshal.  —  The  Emperor  speaking  much, 
but  not  conversing.  —  Observation  of    Constant  on    a  passage   in  the 

journal  of    the   Baroness  de  V .  —  The   Emperor's  opinion  of   the 

former  government. — The  lions  have  become  old.  —  The  Doge  a  French 
senator.  —  The  Emperor  determines  to  have  the  name  of  France  re- 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

spected. — Visit  to  the  arsenal.  —  Dangerous  shoals. — The  tower  of  ob- 
servation .  —  The  workshops.  —  The  Bucentaure.  —  Disappointment  of  a 
bargeman,  an  old  servant  of  the  Doge.  — The  marriage  of  the  Doge  to  the 
sea  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  the  French.  —  Distress  of  the  last  Doge, 
Ludovico  Manini.  —  The  gondoliers.  —  A  boat-race  and  tournament  on 
the  water  in  the  presence  of  the  Emperor.  —  A  glimpse  of  the  square  of 
St.  Mark  during  that  night.  —  Industrious  habits  of  the  Emperor  at 
Venice.  —  Visit  to  the  church  of  St.  Mark  and  the  Doge's  palace.  — The 
dike.  —  The  clock  tower.  —  Mechanism  of  the  clock.  —  The  prisons.  — 
Visit  paid  by  Constant  and  Roustan  to  a  Greek  family.  —  Constant  ques- 
tioned by  the  Emperor. — Constant's  curiosity  disappointed.  —  Enthu- 
siasm of  a  beautiful  Greek  for  the  Emperor.  — Marital  vigilance  and 
removal.  —  Decree  of  the  Emperor  regarding  the  Venetians.  —  Departure 
from  Venice,  and  return  to  France Pages  68-79. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Arrival  at  Paris.  —  Representation  of  an  opera  composed  by  Paer.  —  The 
theater  of  the  Tuileries. — M.  Fontaine,  architect.  —  Criticisms  of  the 
Emperor.  —  The  Arch  of  Triumph  on  the  Place  du  Carrousel  criticised 
by  the  Emperor.  —  A  plan  for  joining  the  Tuileries  to  the  Louvre. — Ex- 
tensive buildings  planned  by  the  Emperor.  — Restoration  of  the  chateau 
of  Versailles.  —  Note  of  the  Emperor  on  the  subject. — Visit  of  the  Em- 
peror to  David's  studio. — Picture  of  the  coronation. — The  Emperor's 
admiration. — M.  Vien.  —  Improvement  suggested  by  the  Emperor. — 
Anecdote  related  by  Marshal  Bessieres. — The  painter  David  and  Cardi- 
nal Caprara's  wig. — A  long  visit.  —  Homage  rendered  by  the  Emperoi 
to  a  great  artist.  —  Compliments  of  Josephine.  —  The  picture  of  thg 
Sabines  in  the  hall  of  the  Council  of  State Pages  80-87. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Marriage  of  Mademoiselle  de  Tascher  to  the  Duke  of  Aremberg.  — Marriage 
of  a  niece  of  King  Murat  to  the  Prince  of  Hohenzollern.  —  Grand  fetes 
and  masked  balls  at  Paris.  —  The  Emperor  at  M.  de  Marescalchi's  ball. 

—  The  Emperor's  disguise.  —  Constant's  instructions.  —  The  Emperoi 
always  recognized.  — Incognito  impossible.  — The  Emperor's  amusement. 

—  Napoleon  perplexed  by  a  masker.  — The  Empress  at  the  ball  of  the 
opera.  —  The  Emperor  trying  to  surprise  the  Empress  at  the  masked  ball. 

—  Napoleon  in  a  domino.  — Constant  as  the  Emperor's  companion,  and 
lutoylng  him.  —  Artifices  of  a  masker,  and  embarrassment  of  the  Em- 
peror.—  An  explanation  between  Napoleon  and  Josephine. — Who  was 
the  masker  who  had  mystified  the  Emperor  ? —  Parisian  masquerades.  — 
Doctor  Gall,  and  heads  with  wigs.  —  Fancy  and  masked  ball  at  the  resi- 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  7 

dence  of  the  Princess  Caroline.  —  Constant  sent  to  this  ball  by  the  Em- 
peror.—  Instructions  given  to  Constant  by  the  Emperor. — Marriage  of 
the  Prince  of  Neuchatel  with  a  Bavarian  princess.  —  Present  sent  the 
Empress  by  an  inhabitant  of  the  Isle  of  France. — The  well-reared 
baboon.  —  Civilized  habits Pages  88-96. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Journey  of  the  Emperor  and  Empress.  —  Stay  at  Bordeaux  and  Bayonne.  — 
Arrival  of  Don  Carlos,  the  infant  of  Spain.  —  Sickness  of  the  child  and 
the  Emperor's  attentions.  — The  chateau  of  Marrac.  —  The  dance  of  the 
Basques.  —  Basque  costumes.  —  Letter  addressed  to  the  Emperor  by  the 
Prince  of  the  Asturias.  —  The  Emperor's  surprise.  —  Cortege  sent  by  the 
Emperor  to  meet  the  prince.  —  Entrance  of  the  prince  into  Bayonne. — 
The  prince  dissatisfied  with  his  lodgings.  — Interview  between  the  prince 
and  the  Emperor.  — The  princes  and  grandees  of  Spain  dine  with  Napo- 
leon.—  Harshness  of  Napoleon  towards  Prince  Ferdinand.  —  Arrival  of 
the  Empress  at  Marrac.  —  Arrival  of  the  King  and  Queen  of  Spain  at 
Bayonne.  —  Anecdote  of  bad  augury  related  to  the  Prince  of  the  Asturias. 

—  French  service  of  honor  used  by  their  Spanish  majesties.  — Ceremony 
of  kissing  the  hand.  — The  Prince  of  the  Asturias  coldly  welcomed  by  his 
father  the  king.  —  Arrival  of  the  Prince  de  la  Paix.  —  Interview  between 
the  Emperor  and  the  King  of  Spain.  — Grief  of  this  monarch.  — Cruelty 
shown  to  Don  Manual  Godoi"  in  his  prison.  — Equipage  of  the  King  and 
Queen  of  Spain.  —  Description  and  habits  of  the  king. — Description  of 
the  queen.  —  Lessons  in  French  toilet.  — Taciturnity  of  the  Prince  of  the 
Asturias  (King  Ferdinand  VII.) .  —  Affection  of  the  king  for  Godoi.  —  The 
princes  of  Spain  at  Fontainebleau  and  Valencay.  —  The  King  of  Spain's 
fondness  for  private  life.  —  Fondness  of  Charles  IV.  for  clock-work.  — 
The  confessor  whistled  for.  —  Charles  IV.  in  his  old  age  takes  lessons 
on  the  violin. — Alexander  Boucher.  —  Etiquette  and  the  royal  duet. — 
Arrival  at  Bayonne  of  Joseph  Bonaparte,  King  of  Spain.  —  Joseph  com- 
plimented by  the  deputies  of  the  Junta.  —  M.  de  Cevallos  and  the  Duke 
of  Infantado  at  the  court  of  the  new  king Pages  97-111. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Death  of  M.  de  Belloy,  Archbishop  of  Paris.  —  Life  Ox  a  century,  and  still  too 
short.  —  Anecdote  concerning  the  Archbishop  of  Genoa.  —  The  hangman's 
child. — The  Grand  Duke  of  Berg  returns  from  Spain.  —  Departure  from 
Marrac.  —  Snuff-boxes  given  away  by  the  Emperor. — The  room  of  the 
First  Bourbon.  —  Souvenir  of  Egypt.  — The  pyramid  and  the  mamelukes. 

—  The  balladeurs.  —  The  Emperor's  visit  to  the  Grand  Duke  of  Berg.  — 
Useless  preparations. — The  oldest  soldier  in  France. — The  Centena- 
rian.—  The  Emperor's  deference  for  old  age.  —  The  soldier  of  Egypt.  — 


8  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Arrival  at  Saint-Cloud.  —  The  fifteenth  of  August.  — The  Emperor  eager 
for  praise.  — The  Emperor's  ill-humor.  — Napoleon  and  the  god  Mars. — 
The  Persian  ambassador.  —  Solemn  audience.  —  Elegance  and  generosity 
of  Asker-Khan.  —  The  swords  of  Tamerlane  and  Kouli-Khan.  —  Persian 
gallantry.  —  Asker-Khan's  love  of  science  and  the  arts. — The  long  price, 
and  the  short  price. — Calico  preferred  to  cashmere.  —  Eastern  amuse- 
ments.—  The  arms  of  the  sufi,  and  the  Emperor's  cipher.  —  Asker- 
Khan  in  the  Imperial  library.  —  The  Koran.  —  Portrait  of  the  sufi.  — 
The  Grand  Order  of  the  Sun  given  to  the  Prince  de  Be'ne'vent.  —  Fall  of 
Asker-Khan  at  the  Empress'  concert.  — M.  de  Barbe'-Marbois  a  physician 
against  his  will Pages  112-123. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Removal  of  the  colossal  statue  to  the  Place  Vendome.  — The  brewer's  horses. 
—  Napoleon's  last  game  of  prisoner's  base.  — Departure  for  Erfurt.  — The 
Emperor's  lodgings. — The  garrison  of  Erfurt.  —  Actors  and  actresses  of 
the  Theatre  Francaise  at  Erfurt.  —  The  Emperor's  dislike  to  Madame 
Talma.  —  Mademoiselle  Bourgoin  and  the  Emperor  Alexander. — Pater- 
nal advice  of  the  Emperor  to  the  Czar.  —  Disappointment.  —  Entrance  of 
the  Emperor  into  Erfurt. — Arrival  of  the  Czar.  —  Attentions  of  the 
Czar  to  the  Duke  of  Montebello.  —  Meeting  of  the  Emperor  and  the 
Czar. — Entrance  of  the  two  Emperors  into  Erfurt.  —  Reciprocal  defer- 
ence.—  The  Czar  dines  every  day  with  the  Emperor.  — Intimacy  of  the 
Emperor  and  the  Czar.  — Dressing-case  and  bed  given  to  Alexander  by 
Napoleon. — The  Emperor  of  Russia's  present  to  Constant. — The  Czar 
making  his  toilet  at  the  Emperor's.  —  Exchange  of  presents. — The  three 
pelisses  of  sable  fur.  —  History  of  one  of  these  three  pelisses.  —  The  Prin- 
cess Pauline  and  her  protege.  — The  Emperor's  anger.  — Exile. 

Pages  124-133. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Czar's  consideration  for  French  actors.  — Fine  parties.  — Intimate  friend- 
ship of  the  King  of  "Westphalia  and  Grand  Duke  Constantino.  —  School- 
boy farces. — Singular  order  of  Prince  Constantino.  —  Souvenirs  at  the 
theater  of  Erfurt.  —  Deafness  of  the  Czar,  attention  of  the  Emperor. — 
Cinna,  (Edipus.  —  An  allusion  acted  on  by  the  Czar.  —  Nocturnal  alarm.  — 
Constant's  terror.  —  Napoleon's  nightmare.  —  A  bear  eating  the  Emperor's 
heart.  —  Singular  coincidence.  — Hunting-party.  — The  smiles  of  the  two 
Emperors.  —  Massacre  of  game.  —  Debut  of  the  Czar  at  the  chase.  —  Ball 
opened  by  the  Czar.  — Astonishment  of  the  Muscovite  lords.  —  Breakfast 
on  Mount  Napoleon.  —  Visit  to  the  battle-field  of  Je'na. — The  inhabit- 
ants of  Jena  and  landowners  indemnified  by  the  Emperor.  —  Gift  of 
a  hundred  thousand  crowns  made  by  the  Emperor  to  the  victims  of  the 
battle  of  Jena. — A  lesson  in  strategy  given  by  Napoleon  to  his  allies. — 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  9 

Representation  of  Marshal  Bertkier. — The  Emperor's  reply.  —  Conver- 
sation between  the  Emperor  and  the  allied  sovereigns.  —  The  Emperor's 
learning.  —  Decorations  and  presents  distributed  by  the  two  Emperors.  — 
End  of  the  interview  at  Erfurt.  —  Separation Pages  134-145. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Return  to  Saint-Cloud.  —  Departure  for  Bayonne.  —  Fears  of  the  Empress 
Josephine. — Mysterious  sachet  worn  on  the  campaign  by  Napoleon. — 
Sadness  of  Constant. —  Presentiment. —  Arrival  at  Vittoria.  —  The  capture 
of  Burgos.  — Bivouac  of  the  grenadiers  of  the  old  guard.  —  On  the  march 
to  Madrid. — Passage  of  the  Somo  Sierra. — Arrival  before  Madrid. — 
The  Emperor  at  the  residence  of  the  mother  of  the  Duke  of  Infantado. 

—  Capture  of  Madrid. — The  Spaniards'  respect  for  loyalty. — The  Mar- 
quis of  Saint-Simon  condemned  to  death,  and  pardoned  by  the  Emperor. 

—  King  Joseph  re-enters  Madrid.  — Adventure  with  a  beautiful  Spanish 
actress.  —  Napoleon's  dislike  to  perfumes. — Sudden  headache. — The 
young  actress  abruptly  dismissed  by  the  Emperor. — Misery  of  the  sol- 
diers.—  The  abbess  of  the  convent  of  Tordesillas.  — Arrival  at  Yallado- 
lid.  — Assassinations  by  Dominican  friars.  —  Hubert,  the  Emperor's  valet 
de  chambre,  attacked  by  monks.  —  The  monks  forced  to  appear  before  the 
Emperor.  —  Excessive  anger.  —  Complaint  made  of  Constant  by  Grand 
Marshal  Duroc. —  Constant's  distress.  —  Kindness  and  justice  of  the  Em- 
peror. —  Reconciliation.  —  Grand  Marshal  Duroc's  kind  feelings  toward 
Constant. — Constant's  illness  at  Valladolid.  —  The  fever  conquered. — 
The  return  to  Paris.  —  Disgrace  of  Prince  Talleyrand     .    Pages  146-156. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Arrival  at  Paris.  — The  Palace  of  Madrid  and  the  Louvre. — The  chateau  of 
Chambord  intended  for  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel.  —  Constant  employment 
of  the  Emperor. — The  Emperor  as  a  musical  critic. — The  Emperor's 
falsetto  voice  and  habit  of  humming.  —  The  Marseillaise  the  signal  for 
departure. — The  Emperor's  gayety  as  he  sets  out  on  the  Russian  cam- 
paign. —  Crescentini  and  Madame  Grassini.  —  Play  of  Crescentini.  — 
Satisfaction  and  generosity  of  the  Emperor.  —  Illness  and  death  of  Da- 
zincourt.  —  Ingratitude  of  the  public.  —  A  word  about  Dazinoourt.  —  The 
Emperor's  stay  at  the  Elyse'e. — Marriage  of  the  Duke  of  Castiglione. 

—  The  Grand-Duchess  of  Tuscany.  —  The  chase  at  Rambouillet.  —  The 
Emperor's  skill.  — Talma.  — Their  Majesties'  departure  from  Strasbourg. 

—  The  Emperor  passes  the  Rhine. — The  Battle  of  Ratisbonne.  — The 
Emperor  wounded. — Much  alarm  in  the  army.  —  The  Emperor's  endu- 
rance. —  The  papers  advised  to  be  silent.  —  Orders  of  the  Emperor  before 
each  battle.  —  A  Bavarian  family  saved  by  Constant.  —  The  Emperor's 
vexation.  —  M.  Pfister  becomes  insane.  —  The  Emperor's  anxiety.  —  Con- 


10  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

spiracy  against  the  Emperor.  —  A  million  in  diamonds.  —  Insult  to  the 
bearer  of  a  flag  of  truce.  —  The  Emperor's  moderation.  —  Letter  of  the 
Prince  de  Neuchatel  to  the  Archduke  Maximilian.  —  Bombardment  of 
Vienna. — The  life  of  Marie  Louise  protected  by  the  Emperor.  — Flight 
of  the  Archduke  Maximilian,  and  the  taking  of  Vienna.  —  Stupidity  of 
the  Austrians Pages  157-167. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Emperor  at  Schoenbrunn. — Description  of  this  residence. — The  Em- 
peror's apartments. — Inconvenience  of  the  stoves. — The  winged  chariot 
of  Maria  Theresa. — The  parks  of  Versailles,  Malmaison,  and  Schoen- 
brunn.—  The  Gloriette. — The  ruins. — The  menagerie  and  kiosk  of 
Maria  Theresa.  —  Reviews  held  by  the  Emperor.  —  Manner  in  which  the 
Emperor  made  promotions.  —  Gratuities  paid  by  the  Emperor.  —  An  act 
of  heroism.  —  Kindness  of  the  Emperor.  —  A  visit  with  bags,  account 
books,  and  arms.  — Unexpected  orders.  —  A  young  officer's  self-possession. 

—  "Wagons  inspected  by  the  Emperor Pages  168-174. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Attempt  against  the  life  of  Napoleon. — Happy  sagacity  of  General  Rapp. 

—  Arrest  of  Frederic  Stabs. — The  fanatical  student.  —  Incredible  per- 
severance. —  The  Duke  of  Rovigo  at  the  residence  of  the  Emperor.  — 
Stabs  questioned  by  the  Emperor.  —  The  Emperor's  pity. — Immobility 
of  Stabs. —Stabs  and  M.  Corvisart. — Pardon  twice  offered  and  refused. 

—  Emotion  of  his  Majesty.  —  Condemnation  of  Stabs. — Fasting  four 
days. —  Last  words  of  Stabs Pages  175-179. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Gallant  adventures  of  the  Emperor  at  Schoenbrunn.  —  Promenade  on  the 
Prater.  —  Exclamation  of  a  young  German  widow.  — The  Emperor's  con- 
descension.—  Rapid   conquest.  —  Madame follows    the  Emperor    to 

Bavaria. — Her  death  at  Paris. — The  young  enthusiast. — Propositions 
ardently  received.  —  A  young  girl  endowed  by  his  Majesty. — The  Em- 
peror's supper.  —  Roustan's  hunger.  — Demand  thoughtlessly  granted.  — 
Constant's  embarrassment.  —  The  ruse  discovered. — The  Emperor  sup- 
ping on  what  Roustan  had  left Pages  180-183. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  battle  of  Essling.  —  Controversy  between  two  friends  of  the  Emperor.  — 

Aversion  of  the  Duke  of  Montebello  to  the  Duke  of .  —  Rudeness  of 

the  Duke  of  Montebello.  —  His  bitterness  on  the  occasion  of  the  plague 
at  Jaffa.  —  Presentiments  of  Marshal  Lannes.  —  A  fatal  mischance. — 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  11 

Marshal  Lannes  struck  by  a  cannon-ball.  —  The  Emperor's  grief. — The 
Emperor  on  his  knees  before  the  marshal.  — Heroic  courage  of  Marshal 
Lannes.  —  His  death  caused,  perhaps,  by  a  fast  of  twenty-four  hours. — 
The  Emperor's  affliction.  — Tears  of  the  old  grenadiers.  — Last  words  of 
the  marshal.  —  The  corpse  embalmed.  —  A  horrible  spectacle.  —  Courage 
of  physicians  in  the  army. — Grief  of  the  Duchess  of  Montebello. — 
Thoughtlessness  of  the  Emperor. — The  Duchess  of  Montebello  wishes 
to  quit  the  service  of  the  Empress Pages  184-193. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Disasters  of  the  battle  of  Essling.  — Murmurs  of  the  soldiers.  — Addresses  to 
the  generals.  —  Courageous  patience. — Bravery  of  Marshal  Massena. — 
Continued  happiness. — Zeal  of  the  army  surgeons. — A  word  from  the 
Emperor. — M.  Larrey.  —  Horse-soup.  —  Soup  made  in  their  helmets. — 
Fortitude  of  the  wounded.  —  Suicide  of  a  cannoneer.  —  The  old  German 
doorkeeper.  —  Princess  Lichtenstein.  —  Good  fare  and  dry  linen.  —  Insult- 
ing letter  to  the  Princess  Lichtenstein.  —  The  Emperor  furious.  —  The 
Emperor's  filial  piety.  —  Kindness  of  Princess  Lichtenstein.  —  Pardon 
granted  by  the  Emperor. — M.  Larrey's  remonstrances. — Two  anecdotes 
about  this  celebrated  surgeon Pages  194-201. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Some  reflections  on  the  manners  of  the  officers  in  the  army.  —  Military  style. 
—  The  Prince  de  Neuchatel.  —  Generals  Bertrand,  Bacler  d'Albe,  etc. — 
Prince  Eugene,  Marshals  Oudinot,  Davoust,  Bessieres,  Generals  Rapp, 
Lebrun,  Lauriston,  etc. — Affability  and  dignity.  —  Foppishness  of  the 
jay-birds  of  the  army. — Cartridge-box  used  as  a  dressing-case.  —  Officers 
by  courtesy.  —  Officers  of  the  line.  —  Bravery  and  modesty.  —  Real  courage 
averse  to  duelling. — Disinterestedness. — Attachment  of  the  officers  to 
their  soldiers. — Breakfast  of  the  grenadiers  the  day  before  the  battle  of 
Wagram. — The  Emperor's  orders  disregarded. — The  Emperor  indig- 
nant. —  The  culprit  shot.  — The  dog  of  the  regiment.  — Death  of  General 
Oudet  at  "Wagram.  —  Confidence  reposed  in  Constant  by  an  officer,  one  of 
his  friends. — The  Philadelphi. — Republican  conspiracy  against  Napo- 
leon.—  Oudet  chief  of  the  conspiracy.  —  Bravery  of  this  general.  —  His 
mysterious  death.  —  Suicides.  —  Military  breakfast  the  day  after  the 
battle  of  "Wagram.  —  A  bold  robbery.  —  Heroic  courage  of  a  Saxon 
surgeon Pages  202-210. 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

Benefactions  of  the  Emperor  during  his  stay  at  Schoenbrunn.  —  Anecdote. — 
The  young  Mahommedan  woman  carried  away  by  Corsairs.  —  A  second 
Helo'ise.  —  Second  taking  away.  —  Distress.  —  Journey  on  foot  from  Con- 


12  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

stantinople  to  Vienna. —  Desperate  news. —  Marriage  of  the  young  Mahom- 
medan  to  a  French  officer.  — Madame  Dartois'  journey  to  Constantinople. 

—  Terror  and  flight.  —  Madame  Dartois  a  widow  for  the  second  time. — 
Petitions  to  the  Emperor.  —  M.  Jauhert,  the  Duke  of  Bassano  and  General 
Lebrun.  —  Generosity  and  gratitude.  —  The  fifteenth  of  August  at  Vienna. 

—  Strange  illumination.  —  Frightful  accident.  —  The  commissary-general 
of  police  at  Vienna.  —  Anecdote. — An  officer's  singular  mistake.  — Pas- 
sion for  play  and  treachery.  —  The  spy  surprised  and  shot.  —  Courage 
of  a  conscript,  and  gayety  of  the  Emperor.  —  Second  attempt  on  the 
Emperor's  life.  —  The  mistress  of  Lord  Paget. — Advances  made  to  the 
countess  in  the  Emperor's  name  —  Hesitation.  —  Bold  resolution.  — 
The  man  of  the  police. — The  match  fails.  —  Security  of  the  Emperor. 

—  The  Emperor's  courage  at  Essling.  —  His  solicitude  for  his  soldiers. — 
Schoenbrunn  a  rendezvous  for  learned  men.  —  M.  Maelzel,  mechanician. 

—  The  Emperor  playing  chess  with  an  automaton.  —  The  Emperor  cheat- 
ing and  beaten.  —  Commendable  action  of  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel.  — 
Gratitude  of  two  young  girls Pages  211-222. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Excursion  to  Raab. — The  bishop  and  Soliman.  —  M.  Jardin's  mistake. — 
Sympathy  of  the  Emperor.  —  A  painful  duty.  —  Chouans  of  Normandy. 

—  The   female  brigand.  —  Heart-rending  scene.  —  Conjugal  tenderness. 

—  Despair  and  madness.  —  Appointment  for  a  hunt  with  the  Archduke 
Charles.  —  Departure  from  Schoenbrunn.  —  Arrival  at  Passau.  —  The 
widow  of  a  German  physician.  —  Terror  of  the  inhabitants  of  Augsburg. 

—  Kindness  of  General  Lecourbe.  —  A  grenadier's  act  of  humanity. — 
Maternal  despair  and  joy. —  The  Emperor's  rapid  journey. — Arrival  at 
Fontainebleau. — The  Emperor's  ill-humor. — The  Emperor's  partiality 
for  the  manufactures  of  Lyons. — A  forced  walk  of  his  Majesty. — The 
Emperor's  harsh  welcome  to  the  Empress.  — Josephine's  tears.  —  The  Em- 
peror's reparation Pages  223-232. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Erroneous  opinions  as  to  the  divorce.  —  The  Emperor's  motives.  —  Tender 
attentions.  —  Painful  sacrifice.  —  Courage  and  resignation  of  the  Em- 
press.—  A  disappointed  guest.  —  The  Emperor's  gayety. — The  King  of 
Saxony  at  Fontainebleau.  —  Friendship  of  the  two  monarchs.  —  Excur- 
sion on  foot  to  the  bridge  of  Jena.  —  The  eye  of  the  master.  —  Compli- 
ment of  the  King  of  Saxony  to  his  Majesty.  —  Preoccupation  of  the 
Emperor.  —  Embarrassment  of  the  Emperor  and  Empress.  —  Mutual 
constraint.  —  Sadness  of  the  stay  at  Fontainebleau.  —  The  Emperor's 
dejection.  —  The  30th  of  November.  —  A  mournful  repast.  —  A  terrible 
scene.  —  The  Empress  faints.  —  Words  uttered  by  the  Emperor.  —  Fetes 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  13 

given  by  the  city  of  Paris.  —  The  pitiable  condition  of  the  Empress.  — 
Inexpressible  enthusiasm. — The  Emperor's  agitation. — Description  of 
a  grand  imperial  hunt.  —  Arrival  of  Prince  Eugene.  —  His  despair.  — 
Interview  between  the  Emperor  and  the  vice-king.  -*-  Touching  words 
of  the  Emperor.  —  Nocturnal  visit  of  Josephine.  —  Josephine's  departure 
for  Malmaison Pages  233-244. 

CHAPTER  XXTV. 

Anecdotes  anterior  to  the  Emperor's  second  marriage.  —  The  Empress  Jose- 
phine's jealousy  of  Madame  Gazani.  —  The  Emperor's  interference.  — 
Change  of  roles.  —  Madame  Gazani  attacked  by  the  Emperor  and  de- 
fended by  the  Empress.  —  Furnishers  shown  to  the  door.  —  Female 
conclave  surprised  by  the  Emperor.  —  Milliner  sent  to  Bicetre.  —  Great 
scandal.  —  The  Emperor's  indifference. — Audacity  of  a  dressmaker. — 
The  Emperor  censured  to  his  face.  —  Constant's  fear.  —  Precipitate 
retreat. — The  Emperor  needing  Constant's  presence. — The  Emperor 
wishing  Constant  to  write  at  his  dictation.  —  Constant's  refusal.  — 
Special  permission  to  hunt  granted  to  Constant.  —  Gun  given  Constant 
by  the  Emperor.  —  The  Emperor's  preference  for  the  guns  of  Louis  XVI. 

—  Louis  XVI.  an  excellent  shot.  —  Napoleon's  opinion  of  Louis  XVI.  — 
Diplomatic  breakfasts.  —  The  saloon  and  family  portraits.  —  Constant's 
cousin  at  the  theater  of  Saint^Cloud.  —  Curiosity  and  delight.  — Pro- 
vincial prudery.  —  Constant's  cousin  on  guard  against  pickpockets  at  the 
court  theater.  —  Petitions  presented  to  the  Emperor  by  Constant.  —  Poor 
success  of  petition  from  the  family  of  Cerf-Berr.  —  Complete  success  of 
Constant's  petition  for  General  Lemarrois.  — Disgrace  of  Constant's  uncle 
unintentionally  caused  by  Marshal  Bessieres.  — The  marshal's  reparation. 

—  A  woman's  imprudence,  and  a  husband's  misfortune  .     Pages  245-257. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Various  opinions  at  the  chateau  on  the  Emperor's  marriage.  —  Conjectures 
shown  to  be  wrong.  —  Constant  charged  to  renew  the  Emperor's  ward- 
robe.—  His  Majesty  receives  the  portrait  of  Marie  Louise.  —  Souvenir 
of  I'Ecole-Mllitaire. — Waltzing  makes  the  Emperor  dizzy.  —  Broken 
chairs. — Dancing-lesson  given  the  Emperor  by  Princess  Stephanie. — 
Departure  of  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel  for  Vienna.  —  Marriage  by  proxy. 

—  Formation  of  the  household  of  the  Empress. — Wedding  presents  of 
the  Empress.  —  The  slipper  of  good  luck. — The  Emperor's  opinion  of 
Queen  Caroline  of  Naples.  -^-Mistake  of  Queen  Caroline  about  the  new 
Empress.  —  Disappointed  ambition.  — The  Empress  deprived  of  her  first 
lady  of  honor. —  Marie  Louise's  resentment  against  Queen  Caroline. — 
Correspondence  between  their  Majesties.  —  The  Emperor  sends  game  to 
the  Empress.  —  Harshness  of  the  Duke  of  Vicenza.  —  An  order  of  the 


14  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS, 

i 

Duke  of  Vicenza  executed  more  quickly  than  an  order  of  the  Emperor. 

—  His  Majesty's  impatience.  —  Acts  of  kindness.  —  The  coquetry  of 
glory.  —  Meeting  of  their  imperial  Majesties.  —  Moment  of  irritability. 

—  Marie  Louise's  amiability Pages  258-265. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Arrival  of  their  Majesties  at  Compiegne. — The  Emperor's  jealousy.  —  In- 
justice done  by  his  Majesty  to  M.  de  Beauharnais.  —  Forgetfulness  of 
ceremonial.  —  The  Emperor's  coquetry.  —  First  nocturnal  visit  of  his 
Majesty  to  the  Empress. — The  Emperor's  opinion  of  Germans. — The 
Emperor's  gayety. — His  devoted  attentions  to  Marie  Louise. — Report 
denied.  —  Description  of  the  Empress  Marie  Louise. — Instructions  to 
the  Empress.  —  Comparison  between  the  wives  of  the  Emperor.  —  Differ- 
ences and  points  of  resemblance  between  the  two  Empresses.  —  The 
memorial  of  Saint  Helena.  —  Preference  of  the  Emperor  for  the  second 
wife.  —  Economy  of  the  Empress  Marie  Louise.  —  Her  want  of  taste.  — 
The  Emperor  an  excellent  husband.  — The  Emperor's  words  contradicted 
by  Constant.  —  Remembrance  of  Josephine  not  effaced  by  Marie  Louise. 

—  Prejudice  of  Marie  Louise  against  her  household  and  the  Emperor's. 

—  Return  of  Constant  from  the  Russian  campaign.  —  Consideration  of 
the  Emperor  and  of  Queen  Hortense.  —  Disdainful  coldness  of  the 
Empress.  —  Excessive  consideration  of  the  Empress  Josephine.  —  In- 
trigues among  the  ladies  of  the  Empress.  —  Order  restored  by  the  Em- 
peror. —  The  Emperor's  watchfulness  over  the  Empress.  —  Harshness 
towards  the  ladies  of  the  Empress.  —  Anecdote  refuted  .    Pages  266-273. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Religious  ceremony  of  the  marriage  of  their  Majesties.  — The  day  after  their 
marriage.  —  Magnificent  fetes.  — The  temples  of  glory  and  of  hymen.  — 
Present  of  the  city  of  Paris  to  the  Empress.  —  Journey  to  the  depart- 
ments of  the  North.  —  Recollections  of  Josephine.  —  Triumph  and  isola- 
tion. —  Arrival  at  Antwerp.  —  Coolness  between  the  King  of  Holland  and 
the  Emperor.  — Mutual  distrust  in  the  midst  of  the/e<es. — Rage  of  the 
Emperor. — The  two  sovereigns  and  the  two  brothers.  —  Some  traits  in 
the  character  of  Prince  Louis.  —  Error  in  regard  to  him.  —  Boat-race  at 
Flushing. —  A  storm.  —  Danger  incurred  by  the  Emperor.  —  Her  Majesty's 
anxiety. — Critical  situation  of  an  usher  on  duty. — A  word  from  the 
Emperor.  —  Rapid  progress.  —  Fondness  of  the  Empress  for  balls  and  the 
stage.  — Continued  festivities.  — Burning  of  the  residence  of  the  Prince 
of  Schwartzenberg.  —  Fortunate  presence  of  mind  of  the  Emperor  and 
the  Vice-king  of  Italy.  — The  Emperor's  words.  — The  three  capitals  of 
the  French  Empire Pages  274r-284. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  15 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

The  remains  of  Marshal  Lannes  transferred  to  the  Pantheon.  —  Funeral  cere- 
monies. —  Appearance  of  the  Church  of  the  Invalides  on  the  day  of  the 
ceremony.  —  Glorious  inscription. —  The  procession.  —  Last  adieux.  —  Sin- 
cere tears.  —  Stay  at  Ramhouillet.  —  Duel  between  two  pages  of  the 
Emperor.  —  Paternal  prudence  of  M.  d'Assigny. — The  St.  Louis  fete 
in  honor  of  the  Empress.  —  Prognostics  drawn  after  the  event.  —  Review 
of  the  Imperial  Guard  of  Holland.  —  Serious  disorders.  — The  Emperor's 
solicitude.  —  An  officer's  happy  idea.  —  Influence  of  the  mere  name  of 
the  Emperor.  —  Napoleon  godfather  and  Marie  Louise  godmother.  — 
Wise  forethought  of  the  Emperor. — Distraction  of  the  Emperor  during 
the  services  at  the  church Pages  285-293. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Pregnancy  of  Marie  Louise.  — What  was  thought  of  it  in  public.  —  Beginning 
of  her  illness. — All  the  palace  in  commotion. — M.  Dubois.  —  The  Em- 
peror's agitation.  — He  is  summoned  from  the  bath-hall. —  The  Emperor's 
words.  —  He  goes  up  to  the  apartment  of  Marie  Louise.  —  The  instru- 
ments.—  Marie  Louise's  words. — The  Emperor  listens  in  agony  at  the 
door  of  the  room. — Madame  de  Montesquieu.  —  The  King  of  Rome 
comes  into  the  world.  —  Paternal  joy  of  the  Emperor.  —  What  he  said  to 
me. — Booming  of  cannon.  —  Appearance  of  the  streets  of  Paris. — The 
twenty-second  discharge.  —  Madame  Blanchard.  —  Pages  serving  as  cou- 
riers. —  Paris  to  the  sixth  and  seventh  stories.  —  Poets.  —  Goods.  —  The 
ceremony  of  anointing.  — Again  Madame  Blanchard.  —  The  balloon  falls. 
—  A  whole  village  lamenting  the  death  of  an  aeronaxit  who  is  in  Paris 
in  perfect  health.  —  Doubts  as  to  Marie  Louise's  pregnancy.  —  Napoleon 
accused  of  libertinage. — His  love  for  his  children. — My  son  dies  of 
croup.  —  The  Emperor's  words.  — My  wife  at  Malmaison.  — Kind  act  of 
Josephine  —  Consolation Pages  294-302. 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Marie  Louise  and  Josephine.  —  The  young  Empress'  simplicity.  —  She  thinks 
herself  ill.  —  Pills  of  bread  and  sugar. — German  expressions  of  Marie 
Louise.  —  Napoleon's  tenderness.  —  Severe  etiquette.  —  Cordial  welcomes 
of  the  Empress.  —  Caen.  —  An  act  of  kindness.  — Cherbourg.  — A  descent 
into  the  basin  of  Cherbourg. — Baptism  of  the  King  of  Rome. — Sou- 
venirs of  the  fete.  —  The  Emperor  presents  his  son  to  those  present.  — 
Banquet  and  concert  at  the  Hotel  de  Ville. —  Kind  words.  — The  Tiber 
at  Paris.  —  The  balloonist  Garnerin.  —  The  provinces.  —  The  Puy-de- 
Dome  in  flames. — The  sea  on  fire  in  the  port  of  Flushing. — Other 
fetes.  —  The  road  to  Saint-Cloud.  —  Fountains  of  barley-water  and  currant 


16  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

wine.  —  Shrubs  for  lamp-posts.  — Madame  Blanchard.  — The  air-balloon. 

—  The  great  star  and  the  |  smaller  stars.  —  Fairyland. — The  doves. — 
The  storm.  —  The  Emperor  and   the  mayor  of  Lyons.  —  The  courtiers. 

—  The  musicians.  —  Prince  Aldobrandini. — The  Prince  and  Princess 
Borghese.  —  The  men  of  bad  omen.  —  Women  without  shoes.  —  No  car- 
riages. —  Act  of  gallantry  and  kindness  of  M.  de  Rernusat .   Pages  303-312. 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

In  1811  and  1812.  —  Reflections. — The  Empress'  fete. — Road  from  Paris  to 
Trianon.  —  The  people  of  the  court  and  men  of  the  people  elbowing 
each  other  at  the  fetes. — The  public  at  the  fetes. — All  Paris  at  Ver- 
sailles. —  The  grand  walk  of  Versailles  and  the  little  saloons  of  Paris. 

—  The  rain. — The  lamps  and  the  women. — The  Empress  addresses 
gracious  words  to  the  ladies. — M.  Alissan  de  Chazet.  —  A  promenade 
of  their  Majesties  in  the  park  of  the  Petit  Trianon.  —  The  island 
of  love. — Fairyland. — Barks  manned  by  cupids.  —  Music  which  comes 
one  knows  not  whence.  — A  Flemish  tableau  acted.  —  All  the  provinces 
of  the  Empire  represented  at  this  fete.  — Marie  Louise. —  She  said  little 
to  the  people  of  her  household.  —  Her  steward. — Among  her  intimate 
friends  she  was  good  and  gentle.  —  Her  coolness  towards  Madame  de 
Montesquieu.  — What  was  said  on  the  subject.  —Coolness  between  Ma- 
dame de  Montesquieu  and  the  Duchess  of  Montebello.  —  Fear  of  a  rival. 

—  The  visits  which  the  Empress  made  to  her. — Reproach  made  by 
Josephine  to  Madame  de  Montebello.  —  Concealed  discontent  of  the 
ladies  of  the  palace.  —  Josephine  and  Madame  de  Montesquieu.  —  The 
King  of  Rome  is  carried  to  Bagatelle  and  presented  to  Josephine.  —  Joy 
of  this  Princess.  —  Her  unselfishness.  —  She  bathes  the  august  infant 
with  her  tears.  —  What  Josephine  said  to  me  on  this  subject. — The 
nurse  of  the  King  of  Rome.  —  Marie  Louise  and  her  son.  —  Marie  Louise 
and  Josephine.  —  Anecdote  of  private  life.  —  The  kiss  on  the  check 
wiped  off  with  the  handkerchief.  —  Marie  Louise's  dislike  to  heat  and 
odors Pages  313-323. 


RECOLLECTIONS    OF   NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Success  crowns  his  arms.  —  General  Beaumont.  —  Colonel  (now  general) 
Gerard.  —  One  hundred  and  forty  flags  captured  from  the  enemy. — 
General  Savary,  Marshal  Mortier,  and  Prince  Murat. — Departure  from 
Berlin. — Grand  Marshal  Duroc  breaks  his  collar-hone.  —  Stay  of  the 
Emperor  at  Warsaw.  —  Enthusiasm  of  the  Polish  nohility.  —  The  Em- 
peror sees  Madame  Valevska  for  the  first  time.  —  Description  of  that 
lady.  — Agitation  of  the  Emperor.  —  Singular  mission  confided  to  a  great 
personage. — First  advances  of  the  Emperor  rejected.  —  Confusion  of  the 
ambassador. — Preoccupation  of  his  Majesty.  —  Correspondence.  —  Con- 
sent.—  First  rendezvous. — Madame  Valevska  goes  to  the  headquarters 
at  Finkenstein.  —  Madame  Yalevska's  affection  for  the  Emperor.  —  Meals 
taken  tete-a-tete. — Constant  alone  attends  them.  —  Conversation. — Oc- 
cupation of  Madame  Valevska  when  not  in  the  Emperor's  presence. 
—  Gentle  and  equable  temperament  of  Madame  Valevska.  —  Madame 
Valevska  at  Schoenbrunn  with  the  Emperor.  —  Mysterious  business  com- 
mitted to  Constant.  — The  rain  and  the  ruts.  —  Anxiety  and  suggestions 
of  the  Emperor. — The  carriage  upset.  —  A  dangerous  fall.  —  Constant 
supporting  Madame  Valevska.  — Attentions  lavished  on  Madame  Valev- 
ska by  the  Emperor. — The  small  hotel  of  la  Chausse'e-d'Antin. — Vol- 
untary seclusion  of  Madame  Valevska.  —  Birth  of  a  son.  —  Joy  of  Napo- 
leon. —  The  new-born  babe  made  a  count.  —  Madame  Valevska  carries 
her  son  to  the  Emperor.  — The  young  count  saved  by  Doctor  Corvisart.  — 
The  hair,  the  ring,  and  the  motto.  —  The  La  Valliere  of  the  empire,  and 
the  favorites  of  the  conqueror  of  Austerlitz. 

I  left  the  Emperor  at  Berlin,  where  each  day,  and  each 
hour  of  the  day,  he  received  news  of  some  victory  gained, 
or  some  success  obtained  by  his  generals.     General  Beau- 

19 


20  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

mont1  presented  to  him  eighty  flags  captured  from  the 
enemy  by  his  division,  and  Colonel  Gerard  2  also  presented 
sixty  taken  from  Blucher  at  the  battle  of  Wismar.  Madge- 
burg  had  capitulated,  and  a  garrison  of  sixty  thousand 
men  had  marched  out  under  the  eyes  of  General  Savary. 
Marshal  Mortier  occupied  Hanover  in  the  name  of  France, 
and  Prince  Murat  was  on  the  point  of  entering  Warsaw 
after  driving  out  the  Russians. 

War  was  about  to  recommence,  or  rather  to  be  con- 
tinued, against  the  latter ;  and  since  the  Prussian  army 
could  now  be  regarded  as  entirely  vanquished,  the  Em- 
peror left  Berlin  in  order  to  personally  conduct  operations 
against  the  Russians. 

We  traveled  in  the  little  coaches  of  the  country;  and 
as  was  the  rule  always  on  our  journeys,  the  carriage  of 
the  grand  marshal  preceded  that  of  the  Emperor.  The 
season,  and  the  passage  of  such  large  numbers  of  artillery, 
had  rendered  the  roads  frightful ;  but  notwithstanding 
this  we  traveled  very  rapidly,  until  at  last  between  Kutow 
and  Warsaw,  the  grand  marshal's  carnage  was  upset,  and 
his  collar-bone  broken.  The  Emperor  arrived  a  short  time 
after  this  unfortunate  accident,  and  had  him  borne  un- 
der his  own  eyes  into  the  nearest  post-house.  We  always 
carried  with  us  a  portable  medicine-chest  in  order  that 
needed  help  might  be  promptly  given  to  the  wounded. 
His  Majesty  placed  him  in  the  hands  of  the  surgeon,  and 
did  not  leave  him  till  he  had  seen  the  first  bandage  applied. 

1  Comte  Marc  Antoine  Beaumont  de  la  Bonniere,  born  in  Touraine,  1760; 
served  1795-1809;  peer,  1814;  died  1830.  — Trans. 

2  Etienne-Maurice  Gerard,  born  at  Damvilliers,  1773;  served  1794-1815; 
minister  of  war  1830,  and  marshal  1831,  commanding  the  expedition  to 
Belgium ;  died  1852.  —Trans. 


AT  WARSAW.  21 

At  Warsaw,  where  his  Majesty  passed  the  entire  month 
of  January,  1807,  he  occupied  the  grand  palace.  The 
Polish  nobility,  eager  to  pay  their  court  to  him,  gave  in 
his  honor  magnificent  fetes  and  brilliant  balls,  at  which 
were  present  all  the  wealthiest  and  most  distinguished 
inhabitants  of  Warsaw. 

At  one  of  these  reunions  the  Emperor's  attention  was 
drawn  to  a  young  Polish  lady  named  Madame  Valevska, 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  who  had  just  married  an  old 
noble  of  exacting  temper  and  extremely  harsh  manners, 
more  in  love  with  his  titles  than  with  his  wife,  whom, 
however,  he  loved  devotedly,  and  by  whom  he  was  more 
respected  than  loved.  The  Emperor  experienced  much 
pleasure  at  the  sight  of  this  lady,  who  attracted  his  atten- 
tion at  the  first  glance.  She  was  a  blonde,  with  blue 
eyes,  and  skin  of  dazzling  whiteness ;  of  medium  height, 
with  a  charming  and  beautifully  proportioned  figure.  The 
Emperor  having  approached  her,  immediately  began  a 
conversation,  which  she  sustained  with  much  grace  and 
intelligence,  showing  that  she  had  received  a  fine  educa- 
tion, and  the  slight  shade  of  melancholy  diffused  over 
her  whole  person  rendered  her  still  more  seductive. 

His  Majesty  thought  he  beheld  in  her  a  woman  who 
had  been  sacrificed,  and  was  unhappy  in  her  domestic 
relations;  and  the  interest  with  which  this  idea  inspired 
him  caused  him  to  be  more  interested  in  her  than  he 
had  ever  been  in  any  woman,  a  fact  of  which  she  could 
not  fail  to  be  conscious.  The  day  after  the  ball,  the 
Emperor  seemed  to  me  unusually  agitated ;  he  rose  from 
his  chair,  paced  to  and  fro,  took  his  seat  and  rose  again, 
until  I  thought  I  should  never  finish  dressing  him.     Imme- 


22  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

diately  after  breakfast  he  ordered  a  person,  whose  name 
I  shall  not  give,1  to  pay  a  visit  to  Madame  Valevska,  and 
inform  her  of  his  subjugation  and  his  wishes.  She  proudly 
refused  propositions  which  were  perhaps  too  brusque,  or 
which  perhaps  the  coquetry  natural  to  all  women  led  her 
to  repulse ;  and  though  the  hero  pleased  her,  and  the  idea 
of  a  lover  resplendent  with  power  and  glory  revolved 
doubtless  over  and  over  in  her  brain,  she  had  no  idea 
of  surrendering  thus  without  a  struggle.  The  great  per- 
sonage returned  in  confusion,  much  astonished  that  he 
had  not  succeeded  in  his  mission ;  and  the  next  day  when 
the  Emperor  rose  I  found  him  still  preoccupied,  and  he  did 
not  utter  a  word,  although  he  was  in  the  habit  of  talking 
to  me  at  this  time.  He  had  written  to  Madame  Valevska 
several  times,  but  she  had  not  replied ;  and  his  vanity  was 
much  piqued  by  such  unaccustomed  indifference.  At  last 
his  affecting  appeals  having  touched  Madame  Valevska's 
heart,  she  consented  to  an  interview  between  ten  and  eleven 
o'clock  that  evening,  which  took  place  at  the  appointed  time. 
She  returned  a  few  days  after  at  the  same  hour,  and  her 
visits  continued  until  the   Emperor's  departure. 

Two  months  after  the  Emperor  sent  for  her;  and  she 
joined  him  at  his  headquarters  in  Finkenstein,  where  she 
remained  from  this  time,  leaving  at  Warsaw  her  old 
husband,  who,  deeply  wounded  both  in  his  honor  and  his  af- 
fections, wished  never  to  see  again  the  wife  who  had  aban- 
doned him.  Madame  Valevska  remained  with  the  Emperor 
until  his  departure,  and  then  returned  to  her  family,  con- 
stantly evincing  the  most  devoted  and,  at  the  same  time, 

1  It  was  Murat,  Marshal  and  Grand  Duke  of  Berg,  and  later  King  of 
Naples.  —  Trans. 


MADAME   VALEVSKA.  23 

disinterested  affection.  The  Emperor  seemed  to  appreciate 
perfectly  the  charms  of  this  angelic  woman,  whose  gentle 
and  self-abnegating  character  made  a  profound  impression 
on  me.  As  they  took  their  meals  together,  and  I  served 
them  alone,  I  was  thus  in  a  position  to  enjoy  their  conver- 
sation, which  was  always  amiable,  gay,  and  animated  on 
the  Emperor's  part ;  tender,  impassioned,  and  melancholy 
on  that  of  Madame  Valevska.  When  his  Majesty  was 
absent,  Madame  Valevska  passed  all  her  time,  either  in 
reading,  or  viewing  through  the  lattice  blinds  of  the  Em- 
peror's rooms  the  parades  and  evolutions  which  took  place 
in  the  court  of  honor  of  the  chateau,  and  which  he  often 
commanded  in  person.  Such  was  her  life,  like  her  disposi- 
tion, ever  calm  and  equable ;  and  this  loveliness  of  charac- 
ter charmed  the  Emperor,  and  made  him  each  day  more 
and  more  her  slave. 

After  the  battle  of  Wagram,  in  1809,  the  Emperor  took 
up  his  residence  at  the  palace  of  Schoenbrunn,  and  sent 
immediately  for  Madame  Valevska,  for  whom  a  charming 
house  had  been  rented  and  furnished  in  one  of  the  fau- 
bourgs of  Vienna,  a  short  distance  from  Schoenbrunn.  I 
went  mysteriously  to  bring  her  eveiy  evening  in  a  close 
carriage,  with  a  single  servant,  without  liver}-;  she  entered 
by  a  secret  door,  and  was  introduced  into  the  Emperor's 
apartments.  The  road,  although  very  short,  was  not  with- 
out danger,  especially  in  rainy  weather,  on  account  of 
ruts  and  holes  which  were  encountered  at  every  step ;  and 
the  Emperor  said  to  me  almost  every  day,  "  Be  very  care- 
ful, Constant,  it  has  rained  to-day ;  the  road  will  be  bad. 
Are  you  sure  you  have  a  good  driver  ?  Is  the  carriage 
in  good  condition  ?  "  and  other  questions  of  the  same  kind, 


24  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

which  evidenced  the  deep  and  sincere  affection  he  felt 
for  Madame  Valevska.  The  Emperor  was  not  wrong,  be- 
sides, in  urging  me  to  be  careful;  for  one  evening,  when  we 
had  left  Madame  Valevska's  residence  a  little  later  than 
usual,  the  coachman  upset  us,  and  in  trying  to  avoid  a  rut> 
drove  the  carriage  over  the  edge  of  the  road.  I  was  on 
the  right  of  Madame  Valevska;  and  the  carriage  fell  on 
that  side,  in  such  a  position  that  I  alone  felt  the  shock 
of  the  fall,  since  Madame  Valevska  falling  on  me,  received 
no  injury.  I  was  glad  to  be  the  means  of  saving  her,  and 
when  I  said  this  she  expressed  her  gratitude  with  a  grace 
peculiarly  her  own.  My  injuries  were  slight ;  and  I  began 
to  laugh  the  first,  in  which  Madame  Valevska  soon  joined, 
and  she  related  our  accident  to  his  Majesty  immediately 
on  our  arrival. 

I  could  not  undertake  to  describe  all  the  care  and  at- 
tentions which  the  Emperor  lavished  upon  her.  He  had 
her  brought  to  Paris,  accompanied  by  her  brother,  a  very 
distinguished  officer,  and  her  maid,  and  gave  the  grand 
marshal  orders  to  purchase  for  her  a  pretty  residence  in  the 
Chaussee-d'Antin.  Madame  Valevska  was  very  happy,  and 
often  said  to  me,  "  All  my  thoughts,  all  my  inspirations, 
come  from  him,  and  return  to  him ;  he  is  all  my  happiness, 
my  future,  my  life !  "  She  never  left  her  house  except 
to  come  to  the  private  apartments  at  the  Tuileries,  and 
when  this  happiness  could  not  be  granted,  went  neither 
to  the  theater,  the  promenade,  nor  in  society,  but  remained 
at  home,  seeing  only  very  few  persons,  and  writing  to  the 
Emperor  every  day.     At  length  she  gave  birth  to  a  son,1 

i  Count  Walewski,  born  1810;  minister  to  England,  1852;  minister  of 
foreign  affairs,  1855-1860 ;  died  1868.  —  Trans. 


MADAME  VALEVSKA.  25 

who  bore  a  striking  resemblance  to  the  Emperor,  to  whom 
this  event  was  a  source  of  great  joy ;  and  he  hastened  to 
her  as  soon  as  it  was  possible  to  escape  from  the  chateau, 
and  taking  the  child  in  his  arms,  and  caressing  him,  as 
he  had  just  caressed  the  mother,  said  to  him,  "  I  make 
you  a  count."  Later  we  shall  see  this  son  receiving  at 
Fontainebleau  a  final  proof  of  affection. 

Madame  Valevska  reared  her  son  at  her  residence,  never 
leaving  him,  and  carried  him  often  to  the  chateau,  where 
I  admitted  them  by  the  dark  staircase,  and  when  either  was 
sick  the  Emperor  sent  to  them  Monsieur  Corvisart.  This 
skillful  physician  had  on  one  occasion  the  happiness  of 
saving  the  life  of  the  young  count  in  a  dangerous  illness. 

Madame  Valevska  had  a  gold  ring  made  for  the  Em- 
peror, around  which  she  twined  her  beautiful  blonde  hair, 
and  on  the  inside  of  the  ring  were  engraved  these  words : 
"  When  you  cease  to  love  me,  do  not  forget  that  I  love  your 
The  Emperor  gave  her  no  other  name  but  Marie. 

I  have  perhaps  devoted  too  much  space  to  this  liaison 
of  the  Emperor:  but  Madame  Valevska  was  entirely  dif- 
ferent from  the  other  women  whose  favor  his  Majesty  ob- 
tained;  and  she  was  worthy  to  be  named  the  La  Valliere 
of  the  Emperor,  who,  however,  did  not  show  himself  un- 
grateful towards  her,  as  did  Louis  XIV.  towards  the 
only  woman  by  whom  he  was  beloved.  Those  who  had, 
like  myself,  the  happiness  of  knowing  and  seeing  her  inti- 
mately must  have  preserved  memories  of  her  which  will 
enable  them  to  comprehend  why  in  my  opinion  there  ex- 
ists so  great  a  distance  between  Madame  Valevska,  the 
tender  and  modest  woman,  rearing  in  retirement  the  son 
she  bore  to  the  Emperor,  and  the  favorites  of  the  conqueror 
of  Austerlitz, 


26  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  campaign  in  Poland.  —  The  bat.tle  of  Eylau.  — Te  Deum  and  De  profun- 
dis.  —  Involuntary  detention  of  the  Prince  de  Ponte-Corvo. — Generals 
d'Hautpoult,  Corbineau,  and  Boursier  fatally  wounded.  —  Courage  and 
death  of  General  d'Hautpoult. — The  bon  coup  of  General  Ordener. — 
Presentiment  of  General  Corbineau.  —  Money  from  the  private  purse  of 
the  Emperor  advanced  to  General  Corbineau  a  few  moments  before  his 
death.  —  Enthusiasm  of  the  Poles. — Dissatisfaction  of  the  French. — 
Anecdotes.  —  The  basis  of  the  Polish  language.  —  Misery  and  gayety. — 
Hilarity  of  the  soldiers  excited  by  a  reply  of  the  Emperor.  — The  Persian 
ambassador.  —  Envoy  of  General  Gardanne  to  Persia.  — Treasure  not  re- 
covered.—  The  Emperor's  stay  at  Finkenstein.  —  The  Emperor  cheats 
at  vingt-et-un.  —  The  Emperor  dividing  his  gains  with  Constant.  — 
Amusements  of  the  grand  officers  of  the  Emperor.  —  Bet  won  by  the 

Duke  of  Vicenza.  —  Mystification   of   Monsieur   B.   d'A .  —  Prince 

Jerome  in  love  with  an  actress  of  Breslau. — Marriage  of  the  actress 
to  the  prince's  valet  de  chambre.  —  Favor  and  jealousy.  —  The  brothers 
of  the  Emperor. — The  Emperor  loving  and  scolding  his  brothers. — 
Marshal  Lefebvre  made  Duke  of  Dantzig  by  the  Emperor. — Anecdote 
of  Dantzig  chocolate.  —  Battle  of  Friedland ;  coincidence  of  dates.  — 
High  spirits  of  the  Emperor  during  the  battle.  —  Peace  with  Russia.  — 
Interview  of  the  Emperor  and  the  Czar  at  Tilsit.  — The  King  and  Queen 
of  Prussia.  —  Gallantry  and  severity  of  Napoleon.  —  Rudeness  of  Grand 
Duke  Constantine. — Military  banquet.  —  Concert  by  Baskir  musicians. 
—  Visit  of  Constant  to  the  Baskirs. — Meal  a  la  Cossack.  —  Shooting 
with  the  bow.  —  Constant  successful.  —  Striking  souvenir.  —  Muscovite 
soldier  decorated  by  the  Emperor  Napoleon.  —  Return  through  Bautzen 
and  Dresden,  and  re-entry  into  France. 

The  Russians,  being  incited  to  this  campaign  by  the 
remembrance  of  the  defeat  of  Austerlitz,  and  by  the  fear 
of  seeing  Poland  snatched  from  their  grasp,  were  not 
deterred  by  the  winter  season,  and  resolved  to  open  the 
attack  on  the  Emperor  at  once ;  and  as  the  latter  was  not 
the  man  to  allow  himself  to  be  forestalled,  he  consequently 
abandoned  his  winter  quarters,  and  quitted  Warsaw  at  the 


BATTLE  OF  EYLAU.  27 

end  of  January.  On  the  8th  of  February  the  two  armies 
met  at  Eylau ;  and  there  took  place,  as  is  well  known,  a 
bloody  battle,  in  which  both  sides  showed  equal  courage, 
and  nearly  fifteen  thousand  were  left  dead  on  the  field  of 
battle,  equally  divided  in  number  between  the  French  and 
Russians.  The  gain,  or  rather  the  loss,  was  the  same  to 
both  armies ;  and  a  Te  Deum  was  chanted  at  St.  Petersburg 
as  well  as  at  Paris,  instead  of  the  De  Profundis,  which 
would  have  been  much  more  appropriate.  His  Majesty 
complained  bitterly  on  returning  to  his  headquarters  that 
the  order  he  had  sent  to  General  Bernadotte  had  not  been 
executed,  and  in  consequence  of  this  his  corps  had  taken 
no  part  in  the  battle,  and  expressed  his  firm  conviction  that 
the  victory,  which  remained  in  doubt  between  the  Emperor 
and  General  Benningsen,1  would  have  been  decided  in  favor 
of  the  former  had  a  fresh  army-corps  arrived  during  the 
battle,  according  to  the  Emperor's  calculations.  Most  un- 
fortunately the  aide-de-camp  bearing  the  Emperor's  orders 
to  the  Prince  of  Ponte-Corvo  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
a  party  of  Cossacks ;  and  when  the  Emperor  was  informed 
of  this  circumstance  the  day  after  the  battle,  his  resentment 
was  appeased,  though  not  his  disappointment.  Our  troops 
bivouacked  on  the  field  of  battle,  which  his  Majesty  visited 
three  times,  for  the  purpose  of  directing  the  assistance  of 
the  wounded,  and  removal  of  the  dead. 

Generals  d'Hautpoult,2  Corbineau,3  and  Boursier  were 

1  Count  Levin  August  Benningsen,  born  at  Brunswick,  1745,  headed  the 
conspirators  who  put  to  death  the  Emperor  Paul ;  commanded  the  Russian 
army  at  Eylau ;  died  182(5.  —  Trans. 

2  Jean  Joseph  d'Hautpoult-Salette,  born  1754,  of  a  noble  family  in  Lan- 
guedoc ;  general  of  division  under  Moreau,  distinguished  himself  at  Austerlitz 
and  Jena.    Senator,  1806.  — Trans. 

8  Claude  Louis  Corbineau,  born  at  Laval,  1772 ;  general  of  brigade,  1806. 
—Trans. 


28  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

mortally  wounded  at  Eylau ;  and  it  seems  to  me  I  can  still 
hear  the  brave  d'Hautpoult  saying  to  his  Majesty,  just  as 
he  dashed  off  at  a  gallop  to  charge  the  enemy :  "  Sire,  you 
will  now  see  my  great  claws  ;  they  will  pierce  through  the 
enemy's  squares  as  if  they  were  butter !  "  An  hour  after 
he  was  no  more.  One  of  his  regiments,  being  engaged  in 
the  interval  with  the  Russian  army,  was  mowed  down  with 
grape-shot,  and  hacked  to  pieces  by  the  Cossacks,  only 
eighteen  men  being  left.  General  d'Hautpoult,  forced  to 
fall  back  three  times  with  his  division,  led  it  back  twice  to 
the  charge  ;  and  as  he  threw  himself  against  the  enemy  the 
third  time  shouted  loudly,  "  Forward,  cuirassiers,  in  God's 
name  !  forward,  my  brave  cuirassiers !  "  But  the  grape- 
shot  had  mowed  down  too  many  of  these  brave  fellows; 
very  few  were  left  to  follow  their  chief,  and  he  soon  fell 
pierced  with  wounds  in  the  midst  of  a  square  of  Russians 
into  which  he  had  rushed  almost  alone. 

I  think  it  was  in  this  battle  also  that  General  Ordener1 
killed  with  his  own  hands  a  general  officer  of  the  enemy. 
The  Emperor  asked  if  he  could  not  have  taken  him  alive. 
"  Sire,"  replied  the  general  with  his  strong  German  ac- 
cent, "  I  gave  him  only  one  blow,  but  I  tried  to  make  it 
a  good  one."  On  the  very  morning  of  the  battle,  General 
Corbineau,  the  Emperor's  aide-de-camp,  while  at  breakfast 
with  the  officers  on  duty,  declared  to  them  that  he  was 
oppressed  by  the  saddest  presentiments ;  but  these  gentle- 
men, attempting  to  divert  his  mind,  turned  the  affair  into 
a  joke.  General  Corbineau  a  few  moments  after  received 
an  order  from  his  Majesty,  and  not  finding  some  money 

1  Michel  Ordener,  born  in  department  of  the  Moselle,  1755;  made  gen- 
eral of  division  at  Austerlitz,  1805;  died  1811.  — Trans. 


GENERAL   CORBINEAU.  29 

he  wished  at  Monsieur  de  Meneval's  quarters,  came  to 
me,  and  I  gave  it  to  him  from  the  Emperors  private  purse ; 
at  the  end  of  a  few  hours  I  met  Monsieur  de  Meneval, 
to  whom  I  rendered  an  account  of  General  Corbineau's 
request,  and  the  sum  I  had  lent  him.  I  was  still  speak- 
ing to  Monsieur  de  Meneval,  when  an  officer  passing  at 
a  gallop  gave  us  the  sad  news  of  the  general's  death.  I 
have  never  forgotten  the  impression  made  on  me  by  this 
sad  news,  and  I  still  find  no  explanation  of  the  strange 
mental  distress  which  gave  warning  to  this  brave  soldier 
of  his  approaching  end. 

Poland  was  relying  upon  the  Emperor  to  re-establish 
her  independence,  and  consequently  the  Poles  were  filled 
with  hope  and  enthusiasm  on  witnessing  the  arrival  of  the 
French  army.  As  for  our  soldiers,  this  winter  campaign 
was  most  distasteful  to  them;  for  cold  and  wretchedness, 
bad  weather  and  bad  roads,  had  inspired  them  with  an 
extreme  aversion  to  this  country. 

In  a  review  at  Warsaw,  at  which  the  inhabitants 
crowded  around  our  troops,  a  soldier  began  to  swear 
roundly  against  the  snow  and  mud,  and,  as  a  consequence, 
against  Poland  and  the  Poles.  "  You  are  wrong,  Mon- 
sieur soldier,"  replied  a  young  lady  of  a  good  bourgeois 
family  of  the  town,  "  not  to  love  our  country,  for  we  love 
the  French  very  much."  —  "  You  are  doubtless  very  lovable, 
mademoiselle,"  replied  the  soldier;  "but  if  you  wish  to 
persuade  me  of  the  truth  of  what  you  say,  you  will  pre- 
pare us  a  good  dinner,  my  comrade  and  I."  — "  Come, 
then,  messieurs,"  said  the  parents  of  the  young  Pole  now 
advancing,  "and  we  will  drink  together  to  the  health  of 
your  Emperor."     And  they  really  carried  off  with  them 


30  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  two  soldiers,  who  partook  of  the  best  dinner  the  coun- 
try afforded. 

The  soldiers  were  accustomed  to  say  that  four  words 
formed  the  basis  of  the  Polish  language,  —  Meba  f  niema ; 
"  bread  ?  there  is  none  ;  "  voia  f  sara  ;  "  water  ?  they  have 
gone  to  draw  it." 

As  the  Emperor  was  one  day  passing  through  a  column 
of  infantry  in  the  suburbs  of  Mysigniez,  where  the  troops 
endured  great  privations  since  the  bad  roads  prevented 
the  arrival  of  supplies,  " Papa,  Mela"  cried  a  soldier. 
"Niema"  immediately  replied  the  Emperor.  The  whole 
column  burst  into  shouts  of  laughter,  and  no  further 
request  was  made. 

During  the  Emperor's  somewhat  extended  stay  at  Fink- 
enstein,  he  received  a  visit  from  the  Persian  ambassador, 
and  a  few  grand  reviews  were  held  in  his  honor.  His 
Majesty  sent  in  return  an  embassy  to  the  Shah,  at  the 
head  of  which  he  placed  General  Gardanne,  who  it  was 
then  said  had  an  especial  reason  for  wishing  to  visit  Per- 
sia. It  was  rumored  that  one  of  his  relations,  after  a  long 
residence  at  Teheran,  had  been  compelled,  having  taken 
part  in  an  insurrection  against  the  Franks,  to  quit  this 
capital,  and  before  his  flight  had  buried  a  considerable 
treasure  in  a  certain  spot,  the  description  of  which  he 
had  carried  to  France.  I  will  add,  as  a  finale  to  this  story, 
some  facts  which  I  have  since  learned.  General  Gar- 
danne found  the  capital  in  a  state  of  confusion;  and 
being  able  neither  to  locate  the  spot  nor  discover  the 
treasure,  returned  from  his  embassy  with  empty  hands. 

Our  stay  at  Finkenstein  became  very  tiresome ;  and  in 
order  to  while  away  the  time,  his  Majesty  sometimes  played 


THE  EMPEROR   CHEATS  AT  CARDS.  31 

with  his  generals  and  aides-de-camp.  The  game  was  usu- 
ally vingt-et-un  ;  and  the  Great  Captain  took  much  pleasure 
in  cheating,  holding  through  several  deals  the  cards  ne- 
cessary to  complete  the  required  number,  and  was  much 
amused  when  he  won  the  game  by  this  finesse.  I  fur- 
nished the  sum  necessary  for  his  game,  and  as  soon  as  he 
returned  to  his  quarters  received  orders  to  make  out  his 
account.  He  always  gave  me  half  of  his  gains,  and  I  di- 
vided the  remainder  between  the  ordinary  valets  de  chambre. 
I  have  no  intention,  in  this  journal,  of  conforming  to  a 
very  exact  order  of  dates ;  and  whenever  there  recurs  to 
my  memory  a  fact  or  an  anecdote  which  seems  to  me  de- 
serving of  mention,  I  shall  jot  it  down,  at  whatever  point 
of  my  narrative  I  may  have  then  reached,  fearing  lest, 
should  I  defer  it  to  its  proper  epoch,  it  might  be  forgotten. 
In  pursuance  of  this  plan  I  shall  here  relate,  in  passing, 
some  souvenirs  of  Saint^Cloud  or  the  Tuileries,  although 
we  are  now  in  camp  at  Finkenstein.  The  pastimes  in 
which  his  Majesty  and  his  general  officers  indulged  recalled 
these  anecdotes  to  my  recollection.  These  gentlemen  often 
made  wagers  or  bets  among  themselves ;  and  I  heard  the 
Duke  of  Vicenza  one  day  bet  that  Monsieur  Jardin,  junior, 
equerry  of  his  Majesty,  mounted  backwards  on  his  horse, 
could  reach  the  end  of  the  avenue  in  front  of  the  chateau 
in  the  space  of  a  few  moments ;  which  bet  the  equerry 
won. 

Messieurs    Fain,  Meneval,  and  Ivan  once  played  a  sin- 
gular joke  on  Monsieur  B.  d'A ,  who,  they  knew,  was 

subject  to  frequent  attacks  of  gallantly.  They  dressed  a 
young  man  in  woman's  clothes,  and  sent  him  to  promenade, 
thus  disguised,  in  an  avenue  near  the  chateau.     Monsieur 


32  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

B.  d'A was  veiy  near-sighted,  and  generally  used  an 

eyeglass.  These  gentlemen  invited  him  to  take  a  walk ; 
and  as  soon  as  he  was  outside  the  door,  he  perceived  the 
beautiful  promenader,  and  could  not  restrain  an  exclama- 
tion of  surprise  and  joy  at  the  sight. 

His  friends  feigned  to  share  his  delight,  and  urged 
him,  as  the  most  enterprising,  to  make  the  first  advances, 
whereupon,  in  great  excitement,  he  hastened  after  the  pre- 
tended young  lady,  whom  they  had  taught  his  role  per- 
fectly.    Monsieur  d'A outdid   himself   in   politeness, 

in  attentions,  in  offers  of  service,  insisting  eagerly  on  doing 
the  honors  of  the  chateau  to  his  new  conquest.  The  other 
acted  his  part  perfectly ;  and  after  many  coquettish  airs  on 
his  side,  and  many  protestations  on  the  part  of  Monsieur 
d'A — — ,  a  rendezvous  was  made  for  that  very  evening; 
and  the  lover,  radiant  with  hope,  returned  to  his  friends, 
maintaining  much  discretion  and  reserve  as  to  his  good  for- 
tune, while  he  really  would  have  liked  to  devour  the  time 
which  must  pass  before  the  day  was  over.  At  last  the 
evening  arrived  which  was  to  put  an  end  to  his  impatience, 
and  bring  the  time  of  his  interview ;  and  his  disappointment 
and  rage  may  be  imagined  when  he  discovered  the  decep- 
tion which  had  been  practiced  on  him.     Monsieur  d'A 

wished  at  first  to  challenge  the  authors  and  actors  in  this 
hoax,  and  could  with  great  difficulty  be  appeased. 

It  was,  I  think,  on  the  return  from  this  campaign,  that 
Prince  Jerome  saw  at  Breslau,  at  the  theater  of  that  town, 
a  young  and  very  pretty  actress,  who  played  her  part  badly, 
but  sang  very  well.  He  made  advances,  which  she  received 
coolly :  but  kings  do  not  sigh  long  in  vain ;  they  place 
too  heavy  a  weight  in  the  balance  against  discretion.     His 


THE  EMPEROR'S  BROTHERS.  33 

Majesty,  the  King  of  Westphalia,  carried  off  his  conquest 
to  Cassel,  and  at  the  end  of  a  short  time  she  was  married 
to  his  first  valet  de  chambre,  Albertoni,  whose  Italian  mor- 
als were  not  shocked  by  this  marriage.  Some  disagree- 
ment, the  cause  of  which  I  do  not  know,  having  caused 
Albertoni  to  quit  the  king,  he  returned  to  Paris  with  lus 
wife,  and  engaged  in  speculations,  in  which  he  lost  all  that 
he  had  gained,  and  I  have  been  told  that  he  returned  to 
Italy.  One  thing  that  always  appeared  to  me  extraordi- 
nary was  the  jealousy  of  Albertoni  towards  his  wife  —  an 
exacting  jealousy  which  kept  his  eyes  open  towards  all 
men  except  the  king ;  for  I  am  well  convinced  that  the 
liaison  continued  after  their  marriage. 

The  brothers  of  the  Emperor,  although  kings,  were 
sometimes  kept  waiting  in  the  Emperor's  antechamber. 
King  Jerome  came  one  morning  by  order  of  the  Emperor, 
who,  having  not  yet  risen,  told  me  to  beg  the  King  of 
Westphalia  to  wait.  As  the  Emperor  wished  to  sleep  a 
little  longer,  I  remained  with  the  other  servants  hi  the 
saloon  which  was  used  as  an  antechamber,  and  the  king 
waited  with  us ;  I  do  not  say  in  patience,  for  he  constantly 
jnoved  from  chair  to  chair,  promenaded  back  and  forth 
between  the  window  and  the  fireplace,  manifesting  much 
annoyance,  and  speaking  now  and  then  to  me,  whom  he 
always  treated  with  great  kindness.  Thus  more  than  half 
an  hour  passed ;  and  at  last  I  entered  the  Emperor's  room, 
and  when  he  had  put  on  his  dressing-gown,  informed  him 
that  his  Majesty  was  waiting,  and  after  introducing  him, 
I  withdrew.  The  Emperor  gave  him  a  cool  reception,  and 
lectured  him  severely,  and  as  he  spoke  very  loud,  I  heard 
him  against  my  will ;  but  the  king  made  his  excuses  in  so 


34  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

low  a  tone  that  I  could  not  hear  a  word  of  his  justification. 
Such  scenes  were  often  repeated,  for  the  prince  was  dis- 
sipated and  prodigal,  which  displeased  the  Emperor  above 
all  things  else,  and  for  which  he  reproved  him  severely, 
although  he  loved  him,  or  rather  because  he  loved  him  so 
much ;  for  it  is  remarkable,  that  notwithstanding  the  fre- 
quent causes  of  displeasure  which  his  family  gave  him, 
the  Emperor  still  felt  for  all  his  relations  the  warmest 
affection. 

A  short  time  after  the  taking  of  Dantzig  (May  24, 
1807),  the  Emperor,  wishing  to  reward  Marshal  Lefebvre 
for  the  recent  services  which  he  had  rendered,  had  him 
summoned  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  His  Majesty 
was  in  consultation  with  the  chief-of-staff  of  the  army 
when  the  arrival  of  the  marshal  was  announced.  "Ah!" 
said  he  to  Berthier,  "the  duke  does  not  delay."  Then, 
turning  to  the  officer  on  duty,  "  Say  to  the  Duke  of  Dant- 
zig that  I  have  summoned  him  so  early  in  order  that  he 
may  breakfast  with  me."  The  officer,  thinking  that  the 
Emperor  had  misunderstood  the  name,  remarked  to  him, 
that  the  person  who  awaited  his  orders  was  not  the  Duke 
of  Dantzig,  but  Marshal  Lefebvre.  "  It  seems,  monsieur, 
that  you  think  me  more  capable  of  making  a  count  \_faire 
un  conte]  than  a  duke." 

The  officer  was  somewhat  disconcerted  by  this  reply; 
but  the  Emperor  reassured  him  with  a  smile,  and  said,  "  Go, 
give  the  duke  my  invitation,  and  say  to  him  that  in  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour  breakfast  will  be  served."  The  officer  re- 
turned to  the  marshal,  who  was,  of  course,  very  anxious  to 
know  why  the  Emperor  had  summoned  him.  "  Monsieur 
le  Due,  the  Emperor  invites  you  to  breakfast  with  liim,  and 


MARSHAL   LEFEBVRE.  35 

begs  you  to  wait  a  quarter  oi  an  hour."  The  marshal, 
not  having  noticed  the  new  title  which  the  officer  gave 
him,  replied  by  a  nod,  and  seated  himself  on  a  folding 
chair  on  the  back  of  which  hung  the  Emperor's  sword, 
which  the  marshal  inspected  and  touched  with  admiration 
and  respect.  The  quarter  of  an  hour  passed,  when  another 
ordnance  officer  came  to  summon  the  marshal  to  the  Em- 
peror, who  was  already  at  table  with  the  chief-of-staff ;  and 
as  he  entered,  the  Emperor  saluted  him  with,  "  Good-day, 
Monsieur  le  Due;   be  seated  next  to  me." 

The  marshal,  astonished  at  being  addressed  by  this 
title,  thought  at  first  that  his  Majesty  was  jesting;  but 
seeing  that  he  made  a  point  of  calling  him  Monsieur  le 
Due  he  was  overcome  with  astonishment.  The  Emperor, 
to  increase  his  embarrassment,  said  to  him,  "  Do  you  like 
chocolate,  Monsieur  le  Due?"  —  "But  —  yes,  Sire."  — 
"  Well,  we  have  none  for  breakfast,  but  I  will  give  you  a 
pound  from  the  very  town  of  Dantzig;  for  since  you  have 
conquered  it,  it  is  but  just  that  it  should  make  you  some 
return."  Thereupon  the  Emperor  left  the  table,  opened 
a  little  casket,  took  therefrom  a  package  in  the  shape  of  a 
long  square,  and  handed  it  to  Marshal  Lefebvre,  saying  to 
him,  "  Duke  of  Dantzig,  accept  this  chocolate ;  little  gifts 
preserve  friendship."  The  marshal  thanked  his  Majestj-, 
put  the  chocolate  in  his  pocket,  and  took  his  seat  again  at 
table  with  the  Emperor  and  Marshal  Berthier.  A  pdtS  in 
the  shape  of  the  town  of  Dantzig  was  in  the  midst  of  the 
table ;  and  when  this  was  to  be  served  the  Emperor  said  to 
the  new  duke,  "  They  could  not  have  given  this  dish  a  form 
which  would  have  pleased  me  more.  Make  the  attack. 
Monsieur  le  Due ;  behold  your  conquest ;  it  is  yours  to  do 


36  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NATOLEON. 

the  honors."  The  duke  obeyed;  and  the  three  guests  ate 
of  the  pie,  which  they  found  much  to  their  taste.  On  his 
return,  the  marshal,  Duke  of  Dantzig,  suspecting  a  sur- 
prise hi  the  little  package  which  the  Emperor  had  given 
him,  hastened  to  open  it,  and  found  a  hundred  thousand 
crowns  in  bank-notes.  In  imitation  of  this  magnificent 
present,  the  custom  was  established  in  the  army  of  calling 
money,  whether  in  pieces  or  in  bank-notes,  Dantzig  choco- 
late ;  and  when  the  soldiers  wished  to  be  treated  by  any 
comrade  who  happened  to  have  a  little  money  in  his 
pocket,  would  say  to  him,  "  Come,  now,  have  you  no 
Dantzig  chocolate  in  your  pocket?" 

The  almost  superstitious  fancy  of  his  Majesty  the 
Emperor  in  regard  to  coincidences  in  dates  and  anniver- 
saries was  strengthened  still  more  by  the  victory  of  Fried- 
land,  which  was  gained  on  June  14,  1807,  seven  years  to 
the  very  day  after  the  battle  of  Marengo.  The  severity 
of  the  winter,  the  difficulty  in  furnishing  supplies  (for 
which  the  Emperor  had  however  made  every  possible  pro- 
vision and  arrangement),  added  to  the  obstinate  courage  of 
the  Russians,  had  made  this  a  severe  campaign,  especially 
to  conquerors  whom  the  incredible  rapidity  of  their  suc- 
cesses in  Prussia  had  accustomed  to  sudden  conquests. 
The  division  of  glory  which  he  had  been  compelled  to 
make  with  the  Russians  was  a  new  experience  in  the  Em- 
peror's military  career,  but  at  Friedland  he  regained  his 
advantage  and  his  former  superiority.  His  Majesty,  by  a 
feigned  retreat,  in  which  he  let  the  enemy  see  only  a  part 
of  his  forces,  drew  the  Russians  into  a  decoy  on  the  Elbe, 
so  complete  that  they  found  themselves  shut  in  between 
that  river  and  our  army.     This  victory  was  gained  by  troops 


BATTLE  OF  FRIEDLAND.  37 

of  the  line  and  cavalry ;  and  the  Emperor  did  not  even  find 
it  necessary  to  use  his  Guards,  while  those  of  the  Emperor 
Alexander  was  almost  entirely  destroyed  in  protecting  the 
retreat,  or  rather  the  flight,  of  the  Russians,  who  could  escape 
from  the  pursuit  of  our  soldiers  only  by  the  bridge  of 
Friedland,  a  few  narrow  pontoons,  and  an  almost  impassable 
ford. 

The  regiments  of  the  line  in  the  French  army  covered 
the  plain;  and  the  Emperor,  occupying  a  post  of  observa- 
tion on  a  height  whence  he  could  overlook  the  whole  field 
of  battle,  was  seated  in  an  armchair  near  a  mill,  surrounded 
by  his  staff.  I  never  saw  him  in  a  gayer  mood,  as  he  con- 
versed with  the  generals  who  awaited  his  orders,  and  seemed 
to  enjoy  eating  the  black  Russian  bread  which  was  baked 
in  the  shape  of  bricks.  This  bread,  made  from  inferior  rye 
flour,  and  full  of  long  straws,  was  the  food  of  all  the 
soldiers ;  and  they  knew  that  his  Majesty  ate  it  as  well 
as  themselves.  The  beautiful  weather  favored  the  skillful 
maneuvers  of  the  army,  and  they  performed  prodigies  of 
valor.  The  cavalry  charges  especially  were  executed  with 
so  much  precision  that  the  Emperor  sent  his  congratu- 
lations to  the  regiments. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  two 
armies  were  pressing  each  other  on  every  side,  and  thou- 
sands of  cannon  caused  the  earth  to  tremble,  the  Emperor 
exclaimed,  "If  this  continues  two  hours  longer,  the  French 
army  will  be  left  standing  on  the  plain  alone."  A  few 
moments  after  he  gave  orders  to  the  Count  Dorsenne,1  gen- 
eral of  the  foot  grenadiers  of  the  Old  Guard,  to  fire  on  a 

1  Jean  Marie  Francois  Dorsenne,  born  in  the  Pas  de  Calais.  1773;  general 
of  division,  1809 ;  commanded  in  north  of  Spain,  1811 ;  died  1812.  —  Trans. 


38  BECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

brick-yard,  behind  which  masses  of  Russians  and  Prussians 
were  intrenched ;  and  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  they  were 
compelled  to  abandon  this  position,  and  a  horde  of  sharp- 
shooters set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives. 

The  Guard  made  this  movement  at  five  o'clock,  and 
at  six  the  battle  was  entirely  won.  The  Emperor  said  to 
those  who  were  near  him,  while  admiring  the  splendid  be- 
havior of  the  Guard,  "  Look  at  those  brave  fellows,  with 
a  good-will  they  would  run  over  the  stone-slingers  and 
pop-guns  of  the  line,  in  order  to  teach  them  to  charge 
without  waiting  for  them ;  but  it  would  have  been  use- 
less, as  the  work  has  been  well  done  without  them." 

His  Majesty  went  in  person  to  compliment  several  regi- 
ments which  had  fought  the  whole  day.  A  few  words, 
a  smile,  a  salute  of  the  hand,  even  a  nod,  was  sufficient 
recompense  to  these  brave  fellows  who  had  just  been 
crowned  with  victory. 

The  number  of  the  dead  and  prisoners  was  enormous; 
and  seventy  banners,  with  all  the  equipments  of  the  Russian 
army,  were  left  in  the  hands  of  the  French. 

After  this  decisive  day,  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  who 
had  rejected  the  proposals  made  by  his  Majesty  after  the 
battle  of  Eylau,  found  himself  much  disposed  to  make  the 
same  on  his  own  account;  and  General  Bennigsen  conse- 
quently demanded  an  armistice  in  the  name  of  his  Emperor, 
which  his  Majesty  granted ;  and  a  short  time  after  a  treaty 
of  peace  was  signed,  and  the  famous  interview  between 
the  two  sovereigns  held  on  the  banks  of  the  Niemen.  I 
shall  pass  over  rapidly  the  details  of  this  meeting,  which 
have  been  published  and  repeated  innumerable  times.  His 
Majesty  and  the  young  Czar  conceived  a  mutual  affection 


AT  TILSIT.  39 

from  the  first  moment  of  their  meeting,  and  each  gave 
f&tes  and  amusements  in  honor  of  the  other.  They  were 
inseparable  in  public  and  in  private,  and  passed  hours  to- 
gether, in  meetings  for  pleasure  only,  from  which  all 
intruders  were  carefully  excluded.  The  town  of  Tilsit 
was  declared  neutral ;  and  French,  Russians,  and  Prussians 
followed  the  example  set  them  by  their  sovereigns,  and 
lived  together  in  the  most  intimate  brotherhood. 

The  King  and  Queen  of  Prussia  soon  after  joined  their 
Imperial  Majesties  at  Tilsit ;  though  this  unfortunate  mon- 
arch, to  whom  there  remained  hardly  one  town  of  the  whole 
kingdom  he  had  possessed,  was  naturally  little  disposed  to 
take  part  in  so  much  festivity.  The  queen  was  beautiful 
and  graceful,  though  perhaps  somewhat  haughty  and  severe, 
which  did  not  prevent  her  being  adored  by  all  who  sur- 
rounded her.  The  Emperor  sought  to  please  her,  and  she 
neglected  none  of  the  innocent  coquetries  of  her  sex  in 
order  to  soften  the  heart  of  the  conqueror  of  her  husband. 
The  queen  several  times  dined  with  the  sovereigns,  seated 
between  the  two  Emperors,  who  vied  with  each  other  in 
overwhelming  her  with  attentions  and  gallantries.  It  is 
well  known  that  the  Emperor  Napoleon  offered  her  one  day 
a  splendid  rose,  which  after  some  hesitation  she  accepted, 
saying  to  his  Majesty  with  a  most  charming  smile,  "  With 
Magdeburg,  at  least."  And  it  is  well  known  also  that  the 
Emperor  did  not  accept  the  condition. 

The  princess  had  among  her  ladies  of  honor  a  very  old 
woman,  who  was  most  highly  esteemed.  One  evening  as 
the  queen  was  being  escorted  into  the  dining-hall  by  the 
two  Emperors,  followed  by  the  King  of  Prussia,  Prince 
Murat,  and  the  Grand  Duke  Constantine,  this  old  lady  of 


40  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

honor  gave  way  to  the  two  latter  princes.  Grand  Duke 
Constantine  would  not  take  precedence  of  her,  but  entirely 
spoiled  this  act  of  politeness  by  exclaiming  in  a  rude  tone, 
"  Pass,  madame,  pass  on  !  "  And  turning  towards  the 
King  of  Naples,  added,  loud  enough  to  be  heard,  this  dis- 
graceful exclamation,  "  The  old  woodcock !  " 

One  may  judge  from  this  that  Prince  Constantine  was 
far  from  exhibiting  towards  ladies  that  exquisite  polite- 
ness and  refined  gallantry  which  distinguished  his  august 
brother. 

The-  French  Imperial  Guard  on  one  occasion  gave  a 
dinner  to  the  guard  of  the  Emperor  Alexander.  At  the 
end  of  this  exceedingly  gay  and  fraternal  banquet,  each 
French  soldier  exchanged  uniforms  with  a  Russian,  and 
promenaded  thus  before  the  eyes  of  the  Emperors,  who 
were  much  amused  by  this  impromptu  disguise. 

Among  the  numerous  attentions  paid  by  the  Russian 
Emperor  to  our  own,  I  would  mention  a  concert  by  a  troop 
of  Baskir  musicians,  whom  their  sovereign  brought  over 
the  Niemen  for  this  purpose,  and  never  certainly  did  more 
barbarous  music  resound  in  the  ears  of  his  Majesty;  and 
this  strange  harmony,  accompanied  by  gestures  equally  as 
savage,  furnished  one  of  the  most  amusing  spectacles  that 
can  be  imagined.  A  few  days  after  this  concert,  I  obtained 
permission  to  make  the  musicians  a  visit,  and  went  to  their 
camp,  accompanied  by  Roustan,  who  was  to  serve  as  inter- 
preter. "We  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  being  present  at  a 
repast  of  the  Baskirs,  where  around  immense  wooden  tubs 
were  seated  groups  consisting  of  ten  men,  each  holding  in 
his  hand  a  piece  of  black  bread  which  he  moistened  with 
a  ladleful  of  water,  in  which  had  been  diluted  something 


TEE  BASKIIiS.  41 

resembling  red  clay.  After  the  repast,  they  gave  us  an  ex- 
hibition of  shooting  with  the  bow ;  and  Roustan,  to  whom 
this  exercise  recalled  the  scenes  of  his  youth,  attempted 
to  shoot  an  arrow,  but  it  fell  at  a  few  paces,  and  I  saw  a 
smile  of  scorn  curl  the  thick  lips  of  our  Baskirs.  I  then 
tried  the  bow  in  my  turn,  and  acquitted  myself  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  do  me  honor  in  the  eyes  of  our  hosts,  who 
instantly  surrounded  me,  congratulating  me  by  their  ges- 
tures on  my  strength  and  skill ;  and  one  of  them,  even  more 
enthusiastic  and  more  amicable  than  the  others,  gave  me  a 
pat  on  the  shoulder  which  I  long  remembered. 

The  day  succeeding  this  famous  concert,  the  treaty  of 
peace  between  the  three  sovereigns  was  signed,  and  his 
Majesty  made  a  visit  to  the  Emperor  Alexander,  who 
received  him  at  the  head  of  his  guard.  The  Emperor 
Napoleon  asked  his  illustrious  ally  to  show  him  the  bravest 
grenadier  of  this  handsome  and  valiant  troop ;  and  when  he 
was  presented  to  his  Majesty,  he  took  from  his  breast  his 
own  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  and  fastened  it  on  the 
breast  of  the  Muscovite  soldier,  amid  the  acclamations  and 
hurrahs  of  all  his  comrades.  The  two  Emperors  embraced 
each  other  a  last  time  on  the  banks  of  the  Niemen,  and  his 
Majesty  set  out  on  the  road  to  Koenigsberg. 

At  Bautzen  the  King  of  Saxony  came  out  to  meet  him, 
and  their  Majesties  entered  Dresden  together.  King  Fred- 
erick Augustus  gave  a  most  magnificent  reception  to  the 
sovereign  who,  not  content  with  giving  him  a  scepter, 
had  also  considerably  increased  the  hereditary  estates  of  the 
elector  of  Saxony.  The  good  people  of  Dresden,  during 
the  week  we  passed  there,  treated  the  French  more  as 
brothers  and  compatriots  than  as  allies. 


42  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

But  it  was  nearly  ten  months  since  we  had  left  Paris ; 
and  in  spite  of  all  the  charms  of  the  simple  and  cordial 
hospitality  of  the  Germans,  I  was  very  eager  to  see  again 
France  and  my  own  family. 


THE   YOUNG  NAPOLEON.  43 


CHAPTER   III. 

Death  of  the  young  Napoleon,  son  of  the  King  of  Holland.  —  Lovely  dispo- 
sition of  this  child. — Weakness  of  the  nurse,  and  firmness  of  the  young 
prince.  —  Submissiveness  of  the  young  prince  to  the  Emperor.  —  His 
affection  for  the  Emperor.  —  An  attractive  family  portrait. — The  shoe- 
maker, and  the  portrait  of  my  Uncle  Bibiche. — The  gazelles  of  Saint- 
Cloud. —  The  King  and  Queen  of  Holland  reconciled  by  the  young 
Napoleon.  —  The  Emperor's  affection  for  his  nephew.  —  The  designated 
heir  of  the  Empire.  —  Predictions  of  misfortune.  —  First  ideas  of  divorce. 

—  Grief  of  the  Empress  Josephine  on  the  death  of  the  young  Napoleon. 

—  Despair  of  Queen  Horteuse.  —  The  suggestion  of  a  chamberlain.  — 
Universal  sorrow  caused  by  the  death  of  the  young  prince. 

It  was  during  the  glorious  campaign  of  Prussia  and 
Poland  that  the  imperial  family  was  plunged  in  the  deepest 
sorrow  by  the  death  of  the  young  Napoleon,  eldest  son  of 
King  Louis  of  Holland.  This  child  bore  a  striking  resem- 
blance to  his  father,  and  consequently  to  his  uncle.  His 
hair  was  blond,  but  would  probably  have  darkened  as  he 
grew  older.  His  eyes,  which  were  large  and  blue,  shone 
with  extraordinary  brilliancy  when  a  deep  impression  was 
made  on  his  young  mind.  Gentle,  lovable,  and  full  of 
candor  and  gayety,  he  was  the  delight  of  the  Emperor,  es- 
pecially on  account  of  the  firmness  of  his  character,  winch 
was  so  remarkable  that,  notwithstanding  his  extreme  youth, 
nothing  could  make  him  break  his  word.  The  following 
anecdote  which  I  recall  furnishes  an  instance  of  this. 

He  was  very  fond  of  strawberries ;  but  they  caused  him 
such  long  and  frequent  attacks  of  vomiting  that  his  mother 
became   alarmed,  and  positively  forbade   his  eating  them, 


44  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

expressing  a  wish  that  every  precaution  should  be  taken  to 
keep  out  of  the  young  prince's  sight  a  fruit  which  was  so 
injurious  to  him.1  The  little  Napoleon,  whom  the  injurious 
effects  of  the  strawberries  had  not  disgusted  with  them,  was 
surprised  to  no  more  see  his  favorite  dish;  but  bore  the 
deprivation  patiently,  until  one  day  he  questioned  his  nurse, 
and  very  seriously  demanded  an  explanation  on  this  subject, 
which  the  good  woman  was  unable  to  give,  for  she  indulged 
him  even  to  the  point  of  spoiling  him.  He  knew  her  weak- 
ness, and  often  took  advantage  of  it,  as  in  this  instance 
for  example.  He  became  angry,  and  said  to  his  nurse  in  a 
tone  which  had  as  much  and  even  more  effect  on  her  than 
the  Emperor  or  the  King  of  Holland  could  have  had,  "  I 
will  have  the  strawberries.  Give  them  to  me  at  once." 
The  poor  nurse  begged  him  to  be  quiet,  and  said  that  she 
would  give  them  to  him,  but  she  was  afraid  that  if  anything 
happened  he  would  tell  the  queen  who  had  done  this.  "  Is 
that  all?"  replied  Napoleon  eagerly.  "Have  no  fear;  I 
promise  not  to  tell." 

The  nurse  yielded,  and  the  strawberries  had  their  usual 
effect.  The  queen  entered  while  he  was  undergoing  the 
punishment  for  his  self-indulgence ;  and  he  could  not  deny 
that  he  had  eaten  the  forbidden  fruit,  as  the  proofs  were 
too  evident.  The  queen  was  much  incensed,  and  wished 
to  know  who  had  disobeyed  her ;  she  alternately  entreated 
and  threatened  the  child,  who  still  continued  to  reply  with 
the  greatest  composure,  "  I  promised  not  to  tell."  And 
in  spite  of  the  great  influence  she  had  over  him,  she  could 
not  force  him  to  tell  her  the  name  of  the  guilty  person. 

1  Strawberries  produced  the  same  effect  on  the  King  of  Rome.  More 
carefully  watched  or  more  docile,  he  stopped  eating  them  when  Madame  de 
Montesquieu,  his  governess,  forbade  him.  —  Constant. 


THE  YOUNG  NAPOLEON.  45 

Young  Napoleon  was  devoted  to  his  uncle,  and  mani- 
fested in  his  presence  a  patience  and  self-control  very  for- 
eign to  his  usual  character.  The  Emperor  often  took  him 
on  his  knee  during  breakfast,  and  amused  himself  making 
him  eat  lentils  one  by  one.  The  pretty  face  of  the  child 
became  crimson,  his  whole  countenance  manifested  disgust 
and  impatience ;  but  his  Majesty  could  prolong  this  sport 
without  fearing  that  his  nephew  would  become  angry,  which 
he  would  have  infallibly  done  with  any  one  else. 

At  such  a  tender  age  could  he  have  been  conscious  of 
his  uncle's  superiority  to  all  those  who  surrounded  him? 
King  Louis,  his  father,  gave  him  each  day  a  new  plaything, 
chosen  exactly  to  suit  his  fancy:  but  the  child  preferred 
those  he  received  from  his  uncle ;  and  when  his  father  said 
to  him,  "  But,  see  here,  Napoleon,  those  are  ugly  things ; 
mine  are  prettier."  —  "  No,"  said  the  young  prince,  "  they 
are  very  nice ;   my  uncle  gave  them  to  me." 

One  morning  when  he  visited  his  Majesty,  he  crossed 
a  saloon  where  amid  many  great  personages  was  Prince 
Murat,  at  that  time,  I  think,  Grand  Duke  of  Berg.  The 
child  passed  through  without  saluting  any  one,  when  the 
prince  stopped  him  and  said,  "  Will  you  not  tell  me  good- 
morning?" —  "No,"  replied  Napoleon,  disengaging  himself 
from  the  arms  of  the  Grand  Duke;  "not  before  my  uncle 
the  Emperor" 

At  the  end  of  a  review  which  had  taken  place  in  the 
court  of  the  Tuileries,  and  on  the  Place  du  Carrousel,  the 
Emperor  went  up  to  his  apartments,  and  threw  his  hat  on 
one  sofa,  his  sword  on  another.  Little  Napoleon  entered, 
took  his  uncle's  sword,  passed  the  belt  round  his  neck,  put 
the  hat  on  his  head,  and  then  kept  step  gravely,  humming 


46  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

a  march  behind  the  Emperor  and  Empress.  Her  Majesty, 
turning  round,  saw  him,  and  caught  him  in  her  arms,  ex- 
claiming, "  What  a  pretty  picture  ! "  Ingenious  in  seizing 
every  occasion  to  please  her  husband,  the  Empress  sum- 
moned M.  Gerard,  and  ordered  a  portrait  of  the  young 
prince  in  this  costume ;  and  the  picture  was  brought  to  the 
palace  of  Saint-Cloud  the  very  day  on  which  the  Empress 
heard  of  the  death  of  this  beloved  child. 

He  was  hardly  three  years  old  when,  seeing  his  shoe- 
maker's bill  paid  with  five-franc  pieces,  he  screamed  loudly, 
not  wishing  that  they  should  give  away  the  picture  of  his 
Uncle  Bibiche.  The  name  of  Bibiche  thus  given  by  the 
young  prince  to  his  Majesty  originated  in  this  manner. 
The  Empress  had  several  gazelles  placed  in  the  park  of 
Saint- Cloud,  which  were  very  much  afraid  of  all  the  in- 
habitants of  the  palace  except  the  Emperor,  who  allowed 
them  to  eat  tobacco  out  of  his  snuff-box,  and  thus  induced 
them  to  follow  him,  and  took  much  pleasure  in  giving  them 
the  tobacco  by  the  hands  of  the  little  Napoleon,  whom  he 
also  put  on  the  back  of  one  of  them.  The  latter  desig- 
nated these  pretty  animals  by  no  other  name  than  that  of 
Bibiche,  and  amused  himself  by  giving  the  same  name  to 
his  uncle. 

This  charming  child,  who  was  adored  by  both  father 
and  mother,  used  his  almost  magical  influence  over  each  in 
order  to  reconcile  them  to  each  other.  He  took  his  father 
by  the  hand,  who  allowed  himself  to  be  thus  conducted 
by  this  angel  of  peace  to  Queen  Hortense,  and  then  said 
to  him,  "Kiss  her,  papa,  I  beg  you;"  and  was  perfectly 
overjoyed  when  he  had  thus  succeeded  in  reconciling 
these  two  beings  whom  he  loved  with  an  equal  affection. 


CHARACTER   OF  THE   YOUNG  NAPOLEON.  47 

How  could  such  a  beautiful  character  fail  to  make  this 
angel  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him  ?  How  could  the  Em- 
peror, who  loved  all  children,  fail  to  be  devoted  to  him, 
even  had  he  not  been  his  nephew,  and  the  godson  of  that 
good  Josephine  whom  he  never  ceased  to  love  for  a  single 
instant?  At  the  age  of  seven  years,  when  that  malady, 
the  croup,  so  dangerous  to  children,  snatched  him  from  his 
heart-broken  family,  he  already  gave  evidence  of  remark- 
able traits  of  character,  which  were  the  foundation  of  most 
brilliant  hopes.  His  proud  and  haughty  character,  while 
rendering  him  susceptible  of  the  noblest  impressions,  was 
not  incompatible  with  obedience  and  docility.  The  idea  of 
injustice  was  revolting  to  him ;  but  he  readily  submitted 
to  reasonable  advice  and  rightful  authority. 

First-born  of  the  new  dynasty,  it  was  fitting  he  should 
attract  as  he  did  the  deepest  tenderness  and  solicitude  of 
the  chief.  Malignity  and  envy,  which  ever  seek  to  defame 
and  villify  the  great,  gave  slanderous  explanations  of  this 
almost  paternal  attachment ;  but  wise  and  thoughtful 
men  saw  in  this  adoptive  tenderness  only  what  it  plainly 
evinced,  —  the  desire  and  hope  of  transmitting  his  immense 
power,  and  the  grandest  name  in  the  universe,  to  an  heir, 
indirect  it  is  true,  but  of  imperial  blood,  and  who,  reared 
under  the  eyes,  and  by  the  direction  of  the  Emperor,  would 
have  been  to  him  all  that  a  son  could  be.  The  death  of 
the  young  Napoleon  appeared  as  a  forerunner  of  misfor- 
tunes in  the  midst  of  his  glorious  career,  disarranging  all 
the  plans  which  the  monarch  had  conceived,  and  decided 
him  to  concentrate  all  his  hopes  on  an  heir  in  a  direct 
line. 

It  was  then  that  the  first  thoughts  of  divorce  arose  in 


48  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

his  mind,  though  it  did  not  take  place  until  two  years  later, 
and  only  began  to  be  the  subject  of  private  conversation 
during  the  stay  at  Fontainebleau.  The  Empress  readily 
saw  the  fatal  results  to  her  of  the  death  of  this  godson, 
and  from  that  time  she  dwelt  upon  the  idea  of  this  terrible 
event  which  ruined  her  life.  This  premature  death  was  to 
her  an  inconsolable  grief ;  and  she  shut  herself  up  for  three 
days,  weeping  bitterly,  seeing  no  one  except  her  women, 
and  taking  almost  no  nourishment.  It  even  seemed  that 
she  feared  to  be  distracted  from  her  grief,  as  she  surrounded 
herself  with  a  sort  of  avidity  with  all  that  could  recall  her 
irreparable  loss.  She  obtained  with  some  difficulty  from 
Queen  Hortense  some  of  the  young  prince's  hair,  which 
his  heart-broken  mother  religiously  preserved ;  and  the  Em- 
press had  this  hair  framed  on  a  cushion  of  black  velvet, 
and  kept  it  always  near  her.  I  often  saw  it  at  Malmaison, 
and  never  without  deep  emotion. 

But  how  can  I  attempt  to  describe  the  despair  of  Queen 
Hortense,  of  that  woman  who  became  as  perfect  a  mother 
as  she  had  been  a  daughter.  She  never  left  her  son  a 
moment  during  his  illness ;  and  when  he  expired  in  her 
arms,  still  wishing  to  remain  near  his  lifeless  body,  she 
fastened  her  arms  through  those  of  her  chair,  in  order 
that  she  might  not  be  torn  from  this  heartrending  scene. 
At  last  nature  succumbed,  to  such  poignant  grief:  the 
unhappy  mother  fainted ;  and  the  opportunity  was  taken  to 
remove  her  to  her  own  apartment,  still  in  the  chair  which 
she  had  not  left,  and  which  her  arms  clasped  convulsively. 
On  awaking,  the  queen  uttered  piercing  screams,  and  her 
dry  and  staring  eyes  and  white  lips  gave  reason  to  fear  that 
she  was  near  her  end.     Nothing  could  bring  tears  to  her 


GRIEF  OF  QUEEN  HORTENSE.  49 

eyes,  until  at  last  a  chamberlain  conceived  the  idea  of 
bringing  the  young  prince's  body,  and  placing  it  on  his 
mother's  knees ;  and  this  had  such  an  effect  on  her  that 
her  tears  burst  forth  and  saved  her  life,  while  she  covered 
with  kisses  the  cold  and  adored  remains.  All  France 
shared  the  grief  of  the  Queen  of  Holland. 


50  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Return  from  the  campaign  of  Prussia  and  Poland.  —  Restoration  of  the 
chateau  of  Rambouillet.  —  Portraits  in  the  bathroom.  —  Surprise  and 
disgust  of  the  Emperor.  —  Stay  of  the  count  at  Fontainebleau.  —  Un- 
just demands  of  innkeepers.  —  Extortion  upon  travelers.  —  Cardinal  Ca- 
prara  and  bouillon  at  six  hundred  francs.  —  Fixed  charges  ordered  by  the 
Emperor. — Arrival  at  Paris  of  Princess  Catherine  of  Wiirtemberg. — 
Marriage  of  this  princess  to  the  King  of  Westphalia.  —  Relations  of 
King  Jerome  towards  his  first  wife.  —  The  valet  de  chambre  Rico  sent 
to  America. — .Affection  of  the  queen  of  Westphalia  for  her  husband. — 
The  queen's  letter  to  her  father.  —  Arrest  of  the  queen  by  the  Marquis 
de  Maubreuil.  —  Robbery  of  diamonds.  —  Presents  of  the  Czar  to  the 
Emperor. — Promenades  of  the  Emperor  at  Fontainebleau.  —  Kindness 
shown  by  the  Emperor  and  Empress  to  an  old  clergyman,  and  the 
Emperor's  conversation  with  this  old  man. — The  Cardinal  de  Belloy, 
Archbishop  of  Paris.  —  Touching  address  of  a  prelate,  who  was  almost  a 
centenarian.  — The  Emperor's  hunt.  —  Costume  and  hunting  equipages. 
—  Gallant  intrigue  of  the  Emperor  at  Fontainebleau.  — Mysterious  com- 
mission given  to  Constant  in  the  darkness. — Unsuccessful  embassy. — 
The  Emperor's  gayety.  —  The  Emperor  guided  by  Constant  in  the 
darkness.  —  Jests  and  thanks  of  the  Emperor.  —  Sudden  coolness  of  the 
Emperor.  —  Theater  at  Fontainebleau. — Misadventure  of  Mademoiselle 
Mars.  —  Loss  promptly  repaired. 

We  arrived  at  Saint-Cloud  on  the  27th  of  July ;  and  the 
Emperor  passed  the  summer  partly  in  this  residence,  and 
partly  at  Fontainebleau,  returning  to  Paris  only  on  special 
occasions,  and  never  remaining  longer  than  twenty-four 
hours.  During  his  Majesty's  absence,  the  chateau  of  Ram- 
bouillet was  restored  and  furnished  anew,  and  the  Emperor 
spent  a  few  days  there.  The  first  time  he  entered  the  bath- 
room, he  stopped  short  at  the  door  and  glanced  around  with 
every  appearance  of  surprise  and  dissatisfaction;   and  when 


AT  RAMBOUILLET.  51 

I  sought  the  cause  of  this,  following  the  direction  of  his 
Majesty's  eyes,  I  saw  that  they  rested  on  various  family 
portraits  which  the  architect  had  painted  on  the  walls  of 
the  room.  They  were  those  of  madame  his  mother,  his 
sisters,  Queen  Hortense,  etc. ;  and  the  sight  of  such  a 
gallery,  in  such  a  place,  excited  the  extreme  displeasure  of 
the  Emperor.  "What  nonsense!"  he  cried.  "Constant, 
summon  Marshal  Duroc !  "  And  when  the  grand  marshal 
appeared,  his  Majesty  inquired,  "Who  is  the  idiot  that 
could  have  conceived  such  an  idea?  Order  the  painter  to 
come  and  efface  all  that.  He  must  have  little  respect  for 
women  to  be  guilty  of  such  an  indecency." 

When  the  court  sojourned  at  Fontainebleau,  the  in- 
habitants indemnified  themselves  amply  for  his  Majesty's 
long  absences  by  the  high  price  at  which  they  sold  all  arti- 
cles of  food.  Their  extortions  became  scandalous  imposi- 
tions, and  more  than  one  foreigner  making  an  excursion  to 
Fontainebleau  thought  himself  held  for  ransom  by  a  troop 
of  Bedouins.  During  the  stay  of  the  court,  a  wretched 
sacking-bed  in  a  miserable  inn  cost  twelve  francs  for  a 
single  night ;  the  smallest  meal  cost  an  incredible  price, 
and  was,  notwithstanding,  detestable ;  in  fact,  it  amounted 
to  a  genuine  pillage  of  travelers.  Cardinal  Caprara,1  whose 
rigid  economy  was  known  to  all  Paris,  went  one  day  to 
Fontainebleau  to  pay  his  court  to  the  Emperor,  and  at 
the  hotel  where  he  alighted  took  only  a  single  cup  of  bou- 
illon, and  the  six  persons  of  his  suite  partook  only  of  a  very 
light  repast,  as  the  cardinal  had  arranged  to  return  in  three 

1  Giovanni  Battista  Caprara.  bora  of  a  noble  family  at  Bologna,  1733 : 
count  and  archbishop  of  Milan  ;  cardinal,  1792  ;  Negotiated  the  Concordat. 
1801 ;  died  1810.  —  Teaks. 


52  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

hours;  but  notwithstanding  this,  as  he  was  entering  his 
carriage,  the  landlord  had  the  audacity  to  present  him  with 
a  bill  for  six  hundred  francs!  The  prince  of  the  church 
indignantly  protested,  flew  into  a  rage,  threatened,  etc.,  but 
all  in  vain  ;   and  the  bill  was  paid. 

Such  an  outrageous  imposition  could  not  fail  to  reach 
the  Emperor's  ears,  and  excited  his  anger  to  such  a  degree 
that  he  at  once  ordered  a  fixed  schedule  of  prices,  which 
it  was  forbidden  the  innkeepers  to  exceed.  This  put  an 
end  to  the  exactions  of  the  bloodsuckers  of  Fontainebleau. 

On  the  21st  of  August,  there  arrived  at  Paris  the 
Princess  Catharine  of  Wiirtemberg,  future  wife  of  Prince 
Jerome  Napoleon,  King  of  Westphalia.  This  princess  was 
about  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  very  beautiful,  with  a 
most  noble  and  gracious  bearing ;  and  though  policy  alone 
had  made  this  marriage,  never  could  love  or  voluntary 
choice  have  made  one  that  was  happier. 

The  courageous  conduct  of  her  Majesty  the  Queen  of 
Westphalia  in  1814,  her  devotion  to  her  dethroned  hus- 
band, and  her  admirable  letters  to  her  father,  who  wished 
to  tear  her  from  the  arms  of  King  Jerome,  are  matters  of 
history.  I  have  seen  it  stated  that  this  prince  never  ceased, 
even  after  this  marriage,  which  was  so  flattering  to  his  am- 
bition, to  correspond  with  his  first  wife,  Madamoiselle  Pat- 
terson, and  that  he  often  sent  to  America  his  valet  de 
chambre,  Rico,  to  inquire  after  this  lady  and  their  child. 
If  this  is  true,  it  is  no  less  so  that  these  attentions  to  his 
first  wife,  which  were  not  only  very  excusable,  but  even, 
according  to  my  opinion,  praiseworthy  in  Prince  Jerome, 
and  of  which  her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  Westphalia  was 
probably  well  aware,  did  not  necessarily  prevent  her  being 
happy  with  her  husband. 


THE  QUEEN   OF   WESTPHALIA.  53 

No  testimony  more  reliable  than  that  of  the  queen  her- 
self can  be  given ;  and  she  expresses  herself  as  follows  in 
her  second  letter  to  his  Majesty,  the  King  of  Wurtem- 
burg:  — 

"  Forced  by  policy  to  marry  the  king,  my  husband,  fate  has  willed 
that  I  should  find  myself  the  happiest  woman  in  the  universe.  I  feel 
towards  my  husband  the  united  sentiments  of  love,  tenderness,  and 
esteem.  In  this  painful  moment  can  the  best  of  fathers  wish  to 
destroy  my  domestic  happiness,  the  only  kind  which  now  remains  to 
me  ?  I  dare  to  say  that  you,  my  dear  father,  you  and  all  my  family, 
do  great  injustice  to  the  king,  my  husband ;  and  I  trust  the  time  will 
come  when  you  will  be  convinced  that  you  have  done  him  injustice, 
and  then  you  will  ever  find  in  him,  as  well  as  in  myself,  the  most 
respectful  and  affectionate  of  children." 

Her  Majesty  then  spoke  of  a  terrible  misfortune  to  which 
she  had  been  exposed.  This  event,  which  was  indeed  ter- 
rible, was  nothing  less  than  violence  and  robbery  committed 
on  a  fugitive  woman  defenseless  and  alone,  by  a  band  at 
the  head  of  which  was  the  famous  Marquis  de  Maubreuil,1 
who  had  been  equerry  of  the  King  of  Westphalia.  I  will 
recur  in  treating  of  the  events  of  1814  to  tins  disgraceful 
affair,  and  will  give  some  particulars,  which  I  think  are 
not  generally  known,  in  regard  to  the  principal  authors  and 
participants  in  this  daring  act  of  brigandage. 

In  the  following  month  of  September,  a  courier  from 
the  Russian  cabinet  arrived  from  St.  Petersburg,  bearing  a 
letter  to  his  Majesty  from  the  Emperor  Alexander ;  and 
among  other  magnificent  gifts  were  two  very  handsome 
fur  pelisses  of  black  fox  and  sable  martin. 

1  A  French  political  adventurer,  born  in  Brittany,  1782 ;  died  1855.  — 
Trans. 


54  RECOLLECTIONS    OF  NAPOLEON. 

During  their  Majesties  residence  at  Fontainebleau,  the 
Emperor  often  went  out  in  his  carriage  with  the  Empress 
in  the  streets  of  the  city  with  neither  escort  nor  guards. 
One  day,  while  passing  before  the  hospital  of  Mont  Pier- 
reux,  her  Majesty  the  Empress  saw  at  a  window  a  very 
aged  clergyman,  who  saluted  their  Majesties.  The  Empress, 
having  returned  the  old  man's  salutation  with  her  habitual 
grace,  pointed  him  out  to  the  Emperor,  who  himself  saluted 
him,  and  ordering  his  coachman  to  stop,  sent  one  of  the 
footmen  with  a  request  to  the  old  priest  to  come  and  speak 
to  them  a  moment,  if  it  were  not  too  great  an  exertion. 
The  old  man,  who  still  walked  with  ease,  hastened  to  de- 
scend; and  in  order  to  save  him  a  few  steps  the  Emperor 
had  his  carriage  driven  very  close  to  the  door  of  the  hos- 
pital. 

His  Majesty  conversed  for  some  time  with  the  good 
ecclesiastic,  manifesting  the  greatest  kindness  and  respect. 
He  informed  their  Majesties  that  he  had  been,  previous  to 
the  Revolution,  the  regular  jjriest  of  one  of  the  parishes  of 
Fontainebleau,  and  had  done  everything  possible  to  avoid 
emigrating ;  but  that  terror  had  at  length  forced  him  to 
leave  his  native  land,  although  he  was  then  more  than  sev- 
enty-five years  old ;  that  he  had  returned  to  France  at  the 
time  of  the  proclamation  of  the  Concordat,  and  now  lived 
on  a  modest  pension  hardly  sufficient  to  pay  his  board  in 
the  hospital.  "  Monsieur  TAbbe,"  said  his  Majesty  after 
listening  to  the  old  priest  attentively,  "  I  will  order  your 
pension  to  be  doubled ;  and  if  that  is  not  sufficient  I  hope 
you  will  apply  to  the  Empress  or  to  me."  The  good  eccle- 
siastic thanked  the  Emperor  with  tears  in  his  eyes.  "Un- 
fortunately, Sire,"  said  he  among  other  things,   "  I  am  too 


MONSIEUR   DE  BELLOY.  55 

old  to  long  enjoy  your  Majesty's  reign  or  profit  by  your 
kindness."  —  "  You  ?  "  replied  the  Emperor,  smiling,  "  why, 
you  are  a  young  man.  Look  at  M.  de  Belloy;  he  is  much 
your  senior,  and  we  hope  to  keep  him  with  us  for  a  long 
time  yet."  Their  Majesties  then  took  leave  of  the  old  man, 
who  was  much  affected,  leaving  him  in  the  midst  of  a 
crowd  of  the  inhabitants  who  had  collected  before  the  hos- 
pital during  this  conversation,  and  who  were  much  im- 
pressed by  this  interesting  scene  and  the  generous  kindness 
of  the  Emperor. 

M.  de  Belloy,  cardinal  and  archbishop  of  Paris,  whose 
name  the  Emperor  mentioned  in  the  conversation  I  have 
just  related,  was  then  ninety-eight  years  of  age,  though  his 
health  was  excellent;  and  I  have  never  seen  an  old  man 
who  had  as  venerable  an  air  as  this  worthy  prelate.  The 
Emperor  had  the  profoundest  respect  for  him,  and  never 
failed  to  give  evidence  of  it  on  every  occasion.  During 
this  same  month  of  September,  a  large  number  of  the  faith- 
ful having  assembled  according  to  custom  on  Mount  Va- 
lerien,  the  archbishop  likewise  repaired  to  the  spot  to  hear 
mass.  As  he  wras  about  to  withdraw,  seeing  that  many 
pious  persons  were  awaiting  Iris  benediction,  he  addressed 
them  before  bestowing  it  in  a  few  words  wrhich  showed 
his  kindness  of  heart  and  his  evangelical  simplicity:  "My 
children,  I  know  that  I  must  be  very  old  from  the  loss 
of  my  strength,  but  not  of  my  zeal  and  my  tenderness  for 
you.  Pray  God,  my  children,  for  your  old  archbishop,  who 
never  fails  to  intercede  on  your  behalf  each  day." 

During  his  stay  at  Fontainebleau,  the  Emperor  enjoyed 
more  frequently  than  ever  before  the  pleasures  of  the  chase. 
The  costume  necessary  was  a  French  coat  of  green  dragon 


56  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

color,  decorated  with  buttons  and  gold  lace,  white  cash- 
mere breeches,  and  Hessian  boots  without  facings  ;  this 
was  the  costume  for  the  grand  hunt  which  was  always  a 
stag  hunt ;  that  for  a  hunt  with  guns  being  a  plain,  green 
French  coat  with  no  other  ornament  than  white  buttons,  on 
which  were  cut  suitable  inscriptions.  This  costume  was  the 
same  for  all  persons  taking  part  in  this  hunt,  with  no  distin- 
guishing marks,  even  for  his  Majesty  himself. 

The  princesses  set  out  for  the  rendezvous  in  a  Spanish 
carriage  with  either  or  four  six  horses,  and  thus  followed 
the  chase,  their  costume  being  an  elegant  riding-habit,  and 
a  hat  with  white  or  black  plumes. 

One  of  the  Emperor's  sisters  (I  do  not  now  recall  which) 
never  failed  to  follow  the  hunt,  accompanied  by  many 
charming  ladies  who  were  always  invited  to  breakfast  at 
the  rendezvous,  as  was  always  the  custom  on  similar  occa- 
sions with  the  persons  of  the  court.  One  of  these  ladies, 
who  was  both  beautiful  and  intelligent,  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Emperor,  a  short  correspondence  ensued,  and 
at  last  the  Emperor  again  ordered  me  to  carry  a  letter. 

In  the  palace  of  Fontainebleau  is  a  private  garden  called 
the  garden  of  Diana,  to  wliich  their  Majesties  alone  had 
access.  This  garden  is  surrounded  on  four  sides  by  build- 
ings ;  on  the  left  was  the  chapel  with  its  gloomy  gallery 
and  Gothic  architecture ;  on  the  right  the  grand  gallery  (as 
well  as  I  can  remember)  ;  in  the  middle  the  building  which 
contained  their  Majesties'  apartments ;  finally,  in  front  of 
and  facing  the  square  were  broad  arcades,  and  behind  them 
the  buildings  intended  for  the  various  persons  attached  to 
the  household  of  the  princes  or  the  Emperor.  Madame  de 
B ,  the  lady  whom  the  Emperor  had  remarked,  lodged 


MADAME  DE  B 57 

in  an  appartment  situated  behind  these  arcades  on  the 
ground  floor ;  and  his  Majesty  informed  me  that  I  would 
find  a  window  open,  through  which  I  must  enter  cautiously, 
in  the  darkness,  and  give  his  note  to  a  person  who  would 
ask  for  it.  This  darkness  was  necessary,  because  this 
window  opened  on  the  garden,  and  though  behind  the 
arcades,  would  have  been  noticed  had  there  been  a  light. 
Not  knowing  the  interior  of  these  apartments,  I  entered 
through  the  window,  thinking  I  could  then  walk  on  a 
level,  but  had  a  terrible  fall  over  a  high  step  which  was  in 
the  embrasure  of  the  window.  I  heard  some  one  scream 
as  I  fell,  and  a  door  was  suddenly  closed.  I  had  received 
severe  bruises  on  my  knee,  elbow,  and  head,  and  rising  with 
difficulty,  at  once  began  a  search  around  the  apartment, 
groping  in  the  dark ;  but  hearing  nothing  more,  and  fearing 
to  make  some  fresh  noise  which  might  be  heard  by  persons 
who  should  not  know  of  my  presence  there,  I  decided  to 
return  to  the  Emperor,  and  report  to  him  my  adventures. 
Finding  that  none  of  my  injuries  were  serious,  the  Emperor 
laughed  most  heartily,  and  then  added,  "  Oh,  oh,  so  there  is 

a  step  ;  it  is  well  to  know  that.     Wait  till  Madame  B 

is  over  her  fright ;  I  will  go  to  her,  and  you  will  accompany 
me."  At  the  end  of  an  hour,  the  Emperor  emerged  with 
me  from  the  door  of  his  cabinet  which  opened  on  the 
garden.  I  conducted  him  in  silence  towards  the  window 
which  was  still  open,  and  assisted  him  to  enter,  and  hav- 
ing obtained  to  my  cost  a  correct  idea  of  the  spot,  directed 
him  how  to  avoid  a  fall. 

His  Majesty,  having  entered  the  chamber  without  acci- 
dent, told  me  to  retire.  I  was  not  without  some  anxiety  as 
I  informed  the  Emperor ;  but  he  replied  that  I  was  a  child, 


58  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

and  there  could  be  no  danger.  It  appeared  that  his  Majesty 
succeeded  better  than  I  had  done,  as  he  did  not  return 
until  daybreak,  and  then  jested  about  my  awkwardness, 
admitting,  however,  that  if  he  had  not  been  warned,  a  simi- 
lar accident  would  have  befallen  him. 

Although  Madame  de  B was  worthy  of  a  genuine 

attachment,  her  liaison  with  the  Emperor  lasted  only  a 
short  while,  and  was  only  a  passing  fancy.  I  think  that 
the  difficulties  surrounding  his  nocturnal  visits  cooled  his 
Majesty's  ardor  greatly;  for  the  Emperor  was  not  enough 
in  love  to  be  willing  to  brave  everything  in  order  to  see 
his  beautiful  mistress.  His  Majesty  informed  me  of  the 
fright  which  my  fall  had  caused  her,  and  how  anxious  this 
amiable  lady  had  been  on  my  account,  and  how  he  had 
reassured  her ;  this  did  not,  however,  prevent  her  sending 
next  day  to  know  how  I  was,  by  a  confidential  person,  who 

told  me  again  how  interested  Madame  de  B had  been 

in  my  accident. 

Often  at  Fontainebleau  there  was  a  court  representation, 
in  which  the  actors  of  the  first  theaters  received  orders  to 
play  before  their  Majesties  scenes  selected  from  their  various 
repertoires.  Mademoiselle  Mars  was  to  play  the  evening 
of  her  arrival ;  but  at  Essonne,  where  she  was  obliged  to 
stop  a  moment  on  account  of  the  road  being  filled  with 
cattle  going  or  returning  from  Fontainebleau,  her  trunk  had 
been  stolen,  a  fact  of  which  she  was  not  aware  until  she 
had  gone  some  distance  from  the  spot.  Not  only  were  her 
costumes  missing,  but  she  had  no  other  clothing  except 
what  she  wore  ;  and  it  would  be  at  least  twelve  hours  before 
she  could  get  from  Paris  what  she  needed.  It  was  then 
two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  that  very  evening  she 


MADEMOISELLE  MARS.  59 

must  appear  in  the  brilliant  role  of  Celimene.  Although 
much  disturbed  by  this  accident,  Mademoiselle  Mars  did 
not  lose  her  presence  of  mind,  but  visited  all  the  shops 
of  the  town,  and  in  a  few  hours  had  cut  and  made  a  com- 
plete costume  in  most  excellent  taste,  and  her  loss  was 
entirely  repaired. 


60  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   V. 

The  Emperor's  journey  to  Italy.  —  Short  time  for  preparation.  —  Complete 
services  sent  in  various  directions.  —  Bedroom  furniture  while  on  the 
journey.  —  Constant  inseparable  from  the  Emperor.  —  Provision  wagon  in 
the  kitchen  service.  — The  appointed  order  of  the  Emperor's  meals  while 
traveling.  —  The  Emperor's  breakfast  in  the  open  air.  —  The  former 
officers  of  the  king's  kitchen  in  the  service  of  the  Emperor.  —  M.  Colin 
and  M.  Pfister.  —  Messieurs  Soupe  and  Pierrugues.  —  Unexpected  arrival 
of  the  Emperor  at  Milan. — Improvised  illumination.  —  Joy  of  Prince 
Eugene  and  the  Milanese.  —  Affection  and  respect  of  the  Emperor  for 
the  vice-queen.  —  Constant  complimented  by  the  vice-king.  —  The 
Emperor  at  the  theate :  of  la  Scala.  —  Passage  through  Brescia  and 
Verona. — Appearance  of  Lombardy.  —  Constant's  dread  of  official  ha- 
rangues. —  Race  at  Vicenza.  —  The  Emperor  an  early  riser  while  travel- 
ing. —  Rice-field  ;.  —  Picturesque  landscapes. 

In  the  month  of  November  of  this  year  I  followed  their 
Majesties  to  Italy.  We  knew  a  few  clays  in  advance  that 
the  Emperor  would  make  this  journey;  but  as  happened 
on  all  other  occasions,  neither  the  day  nor  the  hour  was 
fixed,  until  we  were  told  on  the  evening  of  the  15th  that 
we  would  set  out  early  on  the  morning  of  the  16th.  I 
passed  the  night  like  all  the  household  of  his  Majesty ;  for 
in  order  to  carry  out  the  incredible  perfection  of  comfort 
with  which  the  Emperor  surrounded  himself  on  his  jour- 
neys, it  was  necessary  that  everybody  should  be  on  foot  as 
soon  as  the  hour  of  departure  was  known ;  consequently  I 
passed  the  night  arranging  the  service  of  his  Majesty,  while 
my  wife  packed  my  own  baggage,  and  had  but  just  finished 
when  the  Emperor  asked  for  me,  which  meant  that  ten  min- 
utes after  we  would  be  on  the  road.  At  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning  his  Majesty  entered  his  carriage. 


JOURNEY   TO  ITALY.  61 

As  we  never  knew  at  what  hour  or  in  what  direction 
the  Emperor  would  begin  his  journey,  the  grand  marshal, 
the  grand  equerry,  and  the  grand  chamberlain  sent  forward 
a  complete  service  on  all  the  different  roads  which  they 
thought  his  Majesty  might  take.  The  bedroom  service 
comprised  a  valet  de  cliambre  and  a  wardrobe  boy.  As  for 
me,  I  never  left  his  Majesty's  person,  and  my  carriage  always 
followed  immediately  behind  Ids.  The  conveyance  belong- 
ing to  this  service  contained  an  iron  bed  with  its  accessories, 
a  dressing-case  with  linen,  coats,  etc.  I  know  little  of  the 
service  of  the  stables,  but  that  of  the  kitchen  was  orga- 
nized as  follows :  There  was  a  conveyance  almost  in  the 
shape  of  the  coucous  on  the  Place  Louis  XV.  at  Paris,  with 
a  deep  bottom  and  an  enormous  body.  The  bottom  con- 
tained wines  for  the  Emperor's  table  and  that  of  the  high 
officers,  the  ordinary  wine  being  bought  at  the  places  where 
we  stopped.  In  the  body  of  the  wagon  were  the  kitchen 
utensils  and  a  portable  furnace,  followed  by  a  carriage 
containing  a  steward,  two  cooks,  and  a  furnace-boy.  There 
was  besides  this,  a  baggage-wagon  full  of  provisions  and 
wine  to  fill  up  the  other  as  it  was  emptied;  and  all  these 
conveyances  set  out  a  few  hours  in  advance  of  the  Emperor. 
It  was  the  duty  of  the  grand  marshal  to  designate  the 
place  at  which  breakfast  should  be  taken.  We  alighted 
sometimes  at  the  archbishop's,  sometimes  at  the  hotel  de 
ville,  sometimes  at  the  residence  of  the  sub-prefect,  or 
even  at  that  of  the  mayor,  in  the  absence  of  any  other 
dignitaries.  Having  arrived  at  the  designated  house,  the 
steward  gave  orders  for  the  provisions,  the  furnaces  were 
lighted,  and  spits  turned ;  and  if  the  Emperor  alighted  and 
partook  of  the  repast  prepared,  the  provisions  which  had 


62  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

been  consumed  were  immediately  replaced  as  far  as  possible, 
and  the  carriages  filled  again  with  poultry,  pastry,  etc. ; 
before  leaving  all  expenses  were  paid  by  the  controller, 
presents  were  made  to  the  master  of  the  house,  and  every- 
thing which  was  not  necessary  for  the  service  left  for  the 
use  of  their  servants.  It  sometimes  happened  that  the 
Emperor,  finding  that  it  was  too  soon  for  breakfast,  or  wish- 
ing to  make  a  longer  journey,  gave  orders  to  pass  on,  and 
everything  was  packed  up  again  and  the  service  continued 
its  route.  Sometimes  also  the  Emperor,  halting  in  the  open 
field,  alighted,  took  his  seat  under  a  tree,  and  ordered  his 
breakfast,  upon  which  Roustan  and  the  footmen  obtained 
provisions  from  his  Majesty's  carriage,  which  was  furnished 
with  small  cooking  utensils  with  silver  covers,  holding 
chickens,  partridges,  etc.,  while  the  other  carriages  furnished 
their  proportion.  M.  Pfister  served  the  Emperor,  and  every 
one  ate  a  hasty  morsel.  Fires  were  lighted  to  heat  the 
coffee ;  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  everything  had  disap- 
peared, and  the  carriages  rolled  on  in  the  same  order  as 
before. 

The  Emperor's  steward  and  cooks  had  nearly  all  been 
trained  in  the  household  of  the  king  and  the  princes. 
These  were  Messieurs  Dunau,  Leonard,  Rouff,  and  Gerard. 
M.  Colin  was  chief  in  command,  and  became  steward-con- 
troller after  the  sad  affliction  of  M.  Pfister,  who  became 
insane  during  the  campaign  of  1809.  All  were  capable 
and  zealous  servants ;  and,  as  is  the  case  in  the  household 
of  all  sovereigns,  each  department  of  the  domestic  affairs 
had  its  chief.  Messieurs  Soupe  and  Pierrugues  were  in 
charge  of  the  wines,  and  the  sons  of  these  gentlemen  con- 
tinued to  hold  the  same  office  with  the  Emperor. 


RAPIDITY  OF  THE  JOURNEY.  63 

"We  traveled  with  great  speed  as  far  as  Mont-Cenis, 
but  were  compelled  to  go  more  slowly  after  reaching  this 
pass,  as  the  weather  had  been  very  bad  for  several  days, 
and  the  road  was  washed  out  by  the  rain,  which  still  fell 
in  torrents.  The  Emperor  arrived  at  Milan  at  noon  on 
the  22d;  and,  notwithstanding  our  delay  at  Mont-Cenis, 
the  rest  of  the  journey  had  been  so  rapid  that  no  one  was 
expecting  the  Emperor.  The  vice-king  only  learned  of 
the  arrival  of  his  step-father  when  he  was  half  a  league 
from  the  town,  but  came  in  haste  to  meet  us,  escorted  by 
only  a  few  persons.  The  Emperor  gave  orders  to  halt, 
and,  as  soon  as  the  door  was  opened,  held  out  his  hand 
to  Prince  Eugene,  saying  in  the  most  affectionate  manner: 
"  Come,  get  up  with  us,  my  fine  prince  ;  we  will  enter 
together." 

Notwithstanding  the  surprise  which  this  unexpected 
arrival  caused,  we  had  hardly  entered  the  town  before  all 
the  houses  were  illuminated,  and  the  beautiful  palaces, 
Litta,  Casani,  Melzi,  and  many  others,  shone  with  a  thou- 
sand lights.  The  magnificent  cupola  of  the  cathedral  dome 
was  covered  with  garlands  of  colored  lights ;  and  in  the 
center  of  the  Forum-Bonaparte,  the  walks  of  which  were 
also  illuminated,  could  be  seen  the  colossal  equestrian 
statue  of  the  Emperor,  on  both  sides  of  which  transparen- 
cies had  been  arranged,  in  the  shape  of  stars,  bearing  the 
initials  S  M  I  and  R.  B}r  eight  o'clock  all  the  populace 
had  collected  around  the  chateau,  where  superb  fireworks 
were  discharged,  while  spirited  and  warlike  music  was  per- 
formed. All  the  town  authorities  were  admitted  to  the 
Emperor's  presence. 

On  the  morning  of  the  next  day  there  was  held  at  the 


64  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

chateau  a  council  of  ministers,  over  which  the  Emperor 
presided ;  and  at  noon  he  mounted  his  horse  to  take  part 
in  the  mass  celebrated  by  the  grand  chaplain  of  the  king- 
dom. The  square  of  the  cathedral  was  covered  by  an 
immense  crowd,  through  which  the  Emperor  advanced 
on  horseback,  accompanied  by  his  imperial  Highness,  the 
vice-king,  and  his  staff.  The  noble  countenance  of  Prince 
Eugene  expressed  the  great  joy  he  felt  in  the  presence 
of  his  step-father,  for  whom  he  had  always  so  much 
respect  and  filial  affection,  and  in  hearing  the  incessant 
acclamations  of  the  people,  which  grew  more  vociferous 
every  moment. 

After  the  Te  Deum,  the  Emperor  held  a  review  of  the 
troops  on  the  square,  and  immediately  after  set  out  with 
the  viceroy  for  Monza,  the  palace  at  which  the  queen 
resided.  For  no  woman  did  the  Emperor  manifest  more 
sincere  regard  and  respect  than  for  Princess  Amelia ;  but, 
indeed,  there  has  never  been  a  more  beautiful  or  purer 
woman.  It  was  impossible  to  speak  of  beauty  or  virtue 
in  the  Emperor's  presence  without  his  giving  the  vice- 
queen  as  an  example.  Prince  Eugene  was  very  worthy 
of  so  accomplished  a  wife,  and  justly  appreciated  her 
exalted  character ;  and  I  was  glad  to  see  in  the  coun- 
tenance of  the  excellent  prince  the  reflection  of  the 
happiness  he  enjoyed.  Amidst  all  the  care  he  took  to 
anticipate  every  wish  of  his  step-father,  I  was  much  grati- 
fied that  he  found  time  to  address  a  few  words  to  me, 
expressing  the  great  pleasure  he  felt  at  my  promotion  in 
the  service  and  esteem  of  the  Emperor.  Nothing  could 
have  been  more  grateful  to  me  than  these  marks  of  remem- 
brance from  a  prince  for  whom  I  had  always  retained  a 


IN  ITALY.  65 

most  sincere,  and,  I  made  bold  to  say,  most  tender, 
attachment. 

The  Emperor  remained  a  long  while  with  the  vice- 
queen,  whose  intelligence  equaled  her  amiability  and  her 
beauty,  but  returned  to  Milan  to  dine ;  and  immediately 
afterwards  the  ladies  who  were  received  at  court  were  pre- 
sented to  him.  In  the  evening,  I  followed  his  Majesty 
to  the  theater  of  la  Scala.  The  Emperor  did  not  remain 
throughout  the  play,  but  retired  early  to  his  apartment, 
and  worked  the  greater  part  of  the  night ;  which  did  not, 
however,  prevent  our  being  on  the  road  to  Verona  before 
eight  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

His  Majesty  made  no  stop  at  Brescia  and  Verona.  I 
would  have  been  very  glad  to  have  had  time  on  the  route 
to  examine  the  curiosities  of  Italy ;  but  that  was  not  an 
easy  thing  to  do  in  the  Emperor's  suite,  as  he  halted  only 
for  the  purpose  of  reviewing  troops,  and  preferred  visiting 
fortifications  to  ruins. 

At  Verona  his  Majesty  dined,  or  rather  supped  (for  it 
was  very  late),  with  their  Majesties,  the  King  and  Queen 
of  Bavaria,  who  arrived  at  almost  exactly  the  same  time 
as  ourselves;  and  very  early  the  next  day  we  set  out  for 
Vicenza. 

Although  the  season  was  already  advanced,  I  found 
great  pleasure  in  the  scene  which  awaits  the  traveler  on 
the  road  from  Verona  to  Vicenza.  Imagine  to  yourself 
an  immense  plain,  divided  into  innumerable  fields,  each 
bordered  with  different  kinds  of  trees  with  slender  trunks, 
—  mostly  elms  and  poplars,  —  which  form  avenues  as  far 
as  the  eye  can  reacji.  Vines  twine  around  their  trunks, 
climb  each  tree,  and  droop  from  each  limb;   while   other 


00  RECOLLECTIONS   CF  NAPOLEON, 

branches  of  these  vines,  loosening  their  hold  on  the  tree 
which  serves  as  their  support,  droop  clear  to  the  ground, 
and  hang  in  graceful  festoons  from  tree  to  tree.  Beyond 
these,  lovely  natural  bowers  could  be  seen  far  and  wide, 
splendid  fields  of  wheat ;  or,  at  least,  this  had  been  the 
case  on  my  former  journey,  but  at  this  time  the  harvest 
had  been  gathered  for  several  months. 

At  the  end  of  a  day  which  I  passed  most  delightfully 
amid  these  fertile  plains,  I  entered  Vicenza,  where  the 
authorities  of  the  town,  together  with  almost  the  entire 
population,  awaited  the  Emperor  under  a  superb  arch  of 
triumph  at  the  entrance  of  the  town.  We  were  exceed- 
ingly hungry ;  and  his  Majesty  himself  said,  that  evening  as 
he  retired,  that  he  felt  very  much  like  sitting  down  to  the 
table  when  he  entered  Vicenza.  I  trembled,  then,  at  the 
idea  of  those  long  Italian  addresses,  which  I  had  found 
even  longer  than  those  of  France,  doubtless  because  I  did 
not  understand  a  single  word;  but,  fortunately,  the  magis- 
istrates  of  Vicenza  were  sufficiently  well-informed  not  to 
take  advantage  of  our  position,  and  their  speeches  occupied 
only  a  few  moments. 

That  evening  his  Majesty  went  to  the  theater;  and  I 
was  so  much  fatigued  that  I  would  have  gladly  profited 
by  the  Emperor's  absence  to  take  some  repose,  had  not  an 
acquaintance  invited  me  to  accompany  him  to  the  convent 
of  the  Servites,  in  order  to  witness  the  effect  of  the  illu- 
mination of  the  town,  which  I  did,  and  was  repaid  by  the 
magnificent  spectacle  which  met  my  eyes.  The  whole  town 
seemed  one  blaze  of  light.  On  returning  to  the  palace 
occupied  by  his  Majesty,  I  learned  that  he  had  given  orders 
that  everything  should  be  in  readiness  for  departure  two 


IN  ITALY.  67 

hours   after  midnight ;    consequently  I  had  one   hour   to 
sleep,  and  I  enjoyed  it  to  the  utmost. 

At  the  appointed  moment,  the  Emperor  entered  his  car- 
riage ;  and  we  were  soon  rolling  along  with  the  rapidity 
of  lightning  over  the  road  to  Stra,  where  we  passed  the 
night.  Very  early  next  morning  we  set  out,  following  a 
long  causeway  raised  through  marshes.  The  landscape  is 
almost  the  same,  and  yet  not  so  beautiful,  as  that  we  passed 
before  reaching  Vicenza.  We  still  saw  groves  of  mulberry 
and  olive  trees,  from  which  the  finest  oil  is  obtained, 
and  fields  of  maize  and  hemp,  interspersed  with  meadows. 
Beyond  Stra  the  cultivation  of  rice  commences ;  and,  al- 
though the  rice-fields  must  render  the  country  unhealthy, 
still  it  has  not  the  reputation  of  being  more  so  than  any 
other.  On  the  right  and  left  of  the  road  are  seen  elegant 
houses,  and  cabins  which,  though  covered  with  thatch,  are 
very  comfortable,  and  present  a  charming  appearance.  The 
vine  is  little  cultivated  in  this  part  of  the  country,  where 
it  would  hardly  succeed,  as  the  land  is  too  low  and  damp ; 
but  there  are,  nevertheless,  a  few  small  vineyards  on  the 
slopes,  and  the  vegetation  in  the  whole  country  is  incredi- 
bly rich  and  luxuriant.  The  late  wars  have  left  traces 
which  only  a  long  peace  can  efface. 


68  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Arrival  at  Fusina.  —  The  peote  and  gondolas  of  Venice.  —  The  appearance  of 
Venice. —Salutes  by  the  Emperor.  —  Entrance  of  the  Imperial  cortege 
on  the  Grand  Canal.  —  Gardens  and  groves  improvised  by  the  Emperor. 
—  A  sight  new  to  the  Venetians.  —  Conversation  of  the  Emperor  with 
the  vice-king  and  the  grand  marshal. — The  Emperor  speaking  much, 
but  not  conversing.  —  Observation  of    Constant  on   a  passage  in  the 

journal  of    the  Baroness  de  V .  —  The  Emperor's  opinion  of   the 

former  government.  —  The  lions  have  become  old.  —  The  Doge  a  French 
senator.  —  The  Emperor  determines  to  have  the  name  of  France  re- 
spected.—  Visit  to  the  arsenal.  —  Dangerous  shoals. — The  tower  of  ob- 
servation.—  The  workshops.  —  The  Bucentaure.  —  Disappointment  of  a 
bargeman,  an  old  servant  of  the  Doge.  —  The  marriage  of  the  Doge  to  the 
sea  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  the  French.  — Distress  of  the  last  Doge, 
Ludovico  Manini.  —  The  gondoliers.  —  A  boat-race  and  tournament  on 
the  water  in  the  presence  of  the  Emperor.  —  A  glimpse  of  the  square  of 
St.  Mark  during  that  night.  —  Industrious  habits  of  the  Emperor  at 
Venice.  —  Visit  to  the  church  of  St.  Mark  and  the  Doge's  palace.  — The 
dike.  —  The  clock  tower. — Mechanism  of  the  clock. — The  prisons. — 
Visit  paid  by  Constant  and  Roustan  to  a  Greek  family.  —  Constant  ques- 
tioned by  the  Emperor.  —  Constant's  curiosity  disappointed.  —  Enthu- 
siasm of  a  beautiful  Greek  for  the  Emperor.  — Marital  vigilance  and 
removal.  —  Decree  of  the  Emperor  regarding  the  Venetians.  —  Departure 
from  Venice,  and  return  to  France. 

On  his  arrival  at  Fusina  the  Emperor  found  the  Vene- 
tian authorities  awaiting  him,  embarked  on  the  peote  or 
gondola  of  the  village,  and  advanced  towards  Venice,  ac- 
companied by  a  numerous  floating  cortege.  We  followed 
the  Emperor  in  little  black  gondolas,  which  looked  like 
floating  coffins,  with  which  the  Brenta  was  covered;  and 
nothing  could  be  stranger  than  to  hear,  proceeding  from 
these  coffins  of  such  gloomy  aspect,  delicious  vocal  concerts. 
The  boat  which  carried  his  Majesty,  and  the  gondolas  of 


IN    VENICE.  69 

the  principal  persons  of  his  suite,  were  handsomely  orna- 
mented. 

When  we  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  we  were 
obliged  to  wait  nearly  half  an  hour  until  the  locks  were 
opened,  which  was  done  by  degrees,  and  with  every  pre- 
caution; without  which  the  waters  of  the  Brenta,  held  in 
their  canal  and  raised  considerably  above  the  level  ot  the 
sea,  would  have  rushed  out  suddenly,  and  in  their  violent 
descent  have  driven  our  gondolas  along  before  them,  or 
sunk  them.  Released  at  last  from  the  Brenta,  we  found 
ourselves  in  the  gulf,  and  saw  at  a  distance,  rising  from  the 
midst  of  the  sea,  the  wonderful  city  of  Venice.  Barks,  gon- 
dolas, and  vessels  of  considerable  size,  filled  with  all  the 
wealthy  population,  and  all  the  boatmen  of  Venice  in  gala 
dress,  appeared  on  every  side,  passing,  repassing,  and  cross- 
ing each  other,  in  every  direction,  with  the  most  remarkable 
skill  and  speed. 

The  Emperor  was  standing  at  the  back  of  the  peote,  and, 
as  each  gondola  passed  near  his  own,  replied  to  the  acclama- 
tions and  cries  of  "  Viva  Napoleone  imperatore  e  re ! "  by 
one  of  those  profound  bows  which  he  made  with  so  much 
grace  and  dignity,  taking  off  his  hat  without  bending  his 
head,  and  carrying  it  along  his  body  almost  to  his  knees. 

Escorted  by  tins  innumerable  flotilla,  of  which  the  peote 
of  the  city  seemed  to  be  the  admiral's  vessel,  his  Majesty 
entered  at  last  the  Grand  Canal,  which  flowed  between 
magnificent  palaces,  hung  with  banners  and  filled  with 
spectators.  The  Emperor  alighted  before  the  palace  of  the 
procurators,  where  he  was  received  by  a  deputation  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Senate  and  the  Venetian  nobility.  He  stopped 
a  moment  in  the  square  of  St.  Mark,  passed  through  some 


70  RECOLLECTIONS    OF  NAPOLEON. 

interior  streets,  chose  the  site  for  a  garden,  the  plans  for 
which  the  architect  of  the  city  then  presented  to  him,  and 
which  were  carried  out  as  if  it  had  been  in  the  midst  of 
the  country.  It  was  a  novel  sight  to  the  Venetians  to  see 
trees  planted  in  the  open  air,  while  hedges  and  lawns  ap- 
peared as  if  by  magic.  The  entire  absence  of  verdure  and 
vegetation,  and  the  silence  which  reigns  in  the  streets  of 
Venice,  where  is  never  heard  the  hoof  of  a  horse  nor  the 
wheels  of  a  carriage,  horses  and  carriages  being  things 
entirely  unknown  in  this  truly  marine  city,  must  give  it 
usually  a  sad  and  abandoned  air;  but  this  gloom  entirely 
disappeared  during  his  Majesty's  visit. 

The  prince  viceroy  and  the  grand  marshal  were  present 
in  the  evening  when  the  Emperor  retired ;  and,  while  un- 
dressing him,  I  heard  a  part  of  their  conversation,  which 
turned  on  the  government  of  Venice  before  the  union  of 
this  republic  with  the  French  Empire.  His  Majesty  was 
almost  the  only  spokesman,  Prince  Eugene  and  Marshal 
Duroc  contenting  themselves  with  throwing  a  few  words 
into  the  conversation,  as  if  to  furnish  a  new  text  for  the 
Emperor,  and  prevent  his  pausing,  and  thus  ending  too 
soon  his  discourse;  a  genuine  discourse,  in  fact,  since  his 
Majesty  took  the  lead,  and  left  the  others  but  little  to  say. 
Such  was  often  his  habit ;  but  no  one  thought  of  complain- 
ing of  this,  so  interesting  were  nearly  always  the  Emperor's 
ideas,  and  so  original  and  brilliantly  expressed.  His  Maj- 
esty did  not  converse,  as  had  been  truthfully  said  in  the 
journal  which  I  have  added  to  my  memoirs,  but  he  spoke 
with  an  inexpressible  charm ;  and  on  this  point  it  seems  to 
me  that  the  author  of  the  "Journal  of  Aix-la-Chapelle "  has 
done  the  Emperor  injustice. 


IN   VENICE.  71 

As  I  said  just  now,  his  Majesty  spoke  of  the  ancient 
State  of  Venice,  and  from  what  he  said  on  this  occasion 
I  learned  more  than  I  could  have  done  from  the  most 
interesting  book.  The  viceroy  having  remarked  that  a 
few  patricians  regretted  their  former  liberty,  the  Emperor 
exclaimed,  "  Liberty,  what  nonsense  !  liberty  no  longer  ex- 
isted in  Venice,  and  had,  indeed,  never  existed  except  for  a 
few  families  of  the  nobility,  who  oppressed  the  rest  of  the 
population.  Liberty,  with  a  Council  of  Ten  !  Liberty,  with 
the  inquisitors  of  state  !  Liberty,  with  the  very  lions  as 
informers,  and  Venetian  dungeons  and  bullets !  "  Marshal 
Duroc  remarked  that  towards  the  end  these  severe  regula- 
tions were  much  modified.  "Yes,  no  doubt,"  replied  the 
Emperor.  "  The  lion  of  St.  Mark  had  gotten  old ;  he 
had  no  longer  either  teeth  or  nails !  Venice  was  only  the 
shadow  of  her  former  self,  and  her  last  doge  found  that  he 
rose  to  a  higher  rank  in  becoming  a  senator  of  the  French 
Empire."  His  Majesty,  seeing  that  this  idea  made  the  vice- 
king  smile,  added  very  gravely,  "  I  am  not  jesting,  gentle- 
men. A  Roman  senator  prided  himself  on  being  more  than 
a  king;  a  French  senator  is  at  least  the  equal  of  a  doge. 
I  desire  that  foreigners  shall  accustom  themselves  to  show 
the  greatest  respect  towards  the  constituted  authorities  of 
the  Empire,  and  to  treat  with  great  consideration  even  the 
simple  title  of  French  citizen.  I  will  take  care  to  insure 
this.  Good-night,  Eugene.  Duroc,  take  care  to  have 
the  reception  to-morrow  all  that  it  should  be.  After  the 
ceremony  we  will  visit  the  arsenal.  Adieu,  Messieurs. 
Constant,  come  back  in  ten  minutes  to  put  out  my  light; 
I  feel  sleepy.  One  is  cradled  like  an  infant  on  these  gon- 
dolas." 


72  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  next  day  his  Majesty,  after  receiving  the  homage 
of  the  Venetian  authorities,  repaired  to  the  arsenal.  This 
is  an  immense  building,  fortified  so  carefully  that  it  was 
practically  impregnable.  The  appearance  of  the  interior 
is  singular  on  account  of  several  small  islands  which  it 
incloses,  joined  together  by  bridges.  The  magazines  and 
numerous  buildings  of  the  fortress  thus  appear  to  be  float- 
ing on  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  entrance  on  the  land 
side,  by  which  we  were  introduced,  is  over  a  very  handsome 
bridge  of  marble,  ornamented  with  columns  and  statues. 
On  the  side  next  the  sea,  there  are  numerous  rocks  and 
sandbanks,  the  presence  of  which  is  indicated  by  long  piles. 
It  is  said  that  in  time  of  war  these  piles  were  taken  up, 
which  exposed  the  foreign  vessels,  imprudent  enough  to 
entangle  themselves  among  these  shoals,  to  certain  destruc- 
tion. The  arsenal  could  formerly  equip  eighty  thousand 
men,  both  infantry  and  cavalry,  independent  of  complete 
armaments  for  war  vessels. 

The  arsenal  is  bordered  with  raised  towers,  from  which 
the  view  extends  in  all  directions.  On  the  tallest  of  these 
towei*s,  which  is  placed  in  the  center  of  the  building,  as 
well  as  all  the  others,  sentinels  were  stationed,  both  day 
and  night,  to  signal  the  arrival  of  vessels,  which  they 
could  see  at  a  very  great  distance.  Nothing  can  be  finer 
than  the  dockyards  for  building  vessels,  in  which  ten  thou- 
sand men  can  work  with  ease.  The  sails  are  made  by 
women,  over  whom  other  elderly  women  exercise  an  active 
surveillance. 

The  Emperor  delayed  only  a  short  time  to  look  at  the 
Bucentaure ;  which  is  the  title  of  the  magnificent  vessel 
in  which  the  Doge  of  Venice  was  accustomed  to  celebrate 


IN   VENICE.  73 

his  marriage  with  the  sea ;  and  a  Venetian  never  sees  with- 
out deep  chagrin  this  old  monument  of  the  former  glory 
of  his  country.  I,  in  company  with  some  persons  of  the 
Emperor's  suite,  had  as  our  guide  an  old  mariner,  whose 
eyes  filled  with  tears  as  he  related  to  us  in  bad  French 
that  the  last  time  he  witnessed  the  marriage  of  the  Doge 
with  the  Adriatic  Sea  was  in  1796,  a  year  before  the  cap- 
ture of  Venice.  He  also  told  us  that  he  was  at  that  time 
in  the  service  of  the  last  Doge  of  the  republic,  Lord  Louis 
Manini,  and  that  the  following  year  (1797),  the  French 
entered  Venice  at  the  exact  time  when  the  marriage  of 
the  Doge  to  the  sea,  which  took  place  on  Ascension  Day, 
was  usually  celebrated,  and  ever  since  the  sea  had  remained 
a  widow.  Our  good  sailor  paid  a  most  touching  tribute 
of  praise  to  his  old  master,  who  he  said  had  never  suc- 
ceeded in  forcing  himself  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  Austrians,  and  had  swooned  away  while  resigning  to 
them  the  keys  of  the  city. 

The  gondoliers  are  at  the  same  time  servants,  errand 
boys,  confidants,  and  companions  in  adventures  to  the 
person  who  takes  them  into  his  service ;  and  nothing  can 
equal  the  courage,  fidelity,  and  gayety  of  these  brave  sea- 
men. They  expose  themselves  fearlessly  in  their  slender 
gondolas  to  tempests  ;  and  their  skill  is  so  great  that  they 
turn  with  incredible  rapidity  in  the  narrowest  canals,  cross 
each  other,  follow,  and  pass  each  other  incessantly,  without 
ever  having  an  accident. 

I  found  myself  in  a  position  to  judge  of  the  skill  of 
these  hardy  mariners  the  day  after  our  visit  to  the  arse- 
nal. His  Majesty  was  conducted  through  the  lagoons  as 
far  as  the  fortified  gate  of  Mala-Mocca,  and  the  gondoliers 


74  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

gave  as  he  returned  a  boat-race  and  tournament  on  the 
water.  On  that  day  there  was  also  a  special  representation 
at  the  grand  theater,  and  the  whole  city  was  illuminated. 
In  fact,  one  might  think  that  there  is  a  continual  fete  and 
general  illumination  in  Venice ;  the  custom  being  to  spend 
the  greater  part  of  the  night  in  business  or  pleasure,  and 
the  streets  are  as  brilliant  and  as  full  of  people  as  in  Paris 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  shops,  especially 
those  of  the  square  of  Saint  Mark,  are  brilliantly  lighted, 
and  crowds  fill  the  small  decorated  pavilions  where  coffee, 
ices,  and  refreshments  of  all  kinds  are  sold. 

The  Emperor  did  not  adopt  the  Venetian  mode  of  life, 
however,  and  retired  at  the  same  hour  as  in  Paris ;  and 
when  he  did  not  pass  the  day  working  with  his  ministers, 
rode  in  a  gondola  through  the  lagoons,  or  visited  the  prin- 
cipal establishments  and  public  buildings  of  Venice ;  and 
I  thus  saw,  in  company  with  his  Majesty,  the  church  of 
Saint  Mark,  and  the  ancient  palace  of  the  Doge. 

The  church  of  Saint  Mark  has  five  entrances,  superbly 
decorated  with  marble  columns ;  the  gates  are  of  bronze 
and  beautifully  carved.  Above  the  middle  door  were  for- 
merly the  four  famous  bronze  horses,  which  the  Emperor 
carried  to  Paris  to  ornament  the  Arch  of  Triumph  on 
the  Place  du  Carrousel.  The  tower,  is  separated  from  the 
church  by  a  small  square,  from  the  midst  of  which  it  rises 
to  a  height  of  more  than  three  hundred  feet.  It  is  as- 
cended by  an  inclined  platform  without  steps,  which  is 
very  convenient;  and  on  arriving  at  the  summit  the  most 
magnificent  panorama  is  spread  out  before  you,  —  Venice 
with  its  innumerable  islands  covered  with  palaces,  churches, 
and  buildings,  and  extending  at  a  distance  into  the  sea; 


IN    VENICE.  75 

also  the  immense  dike,  sixty  feet  broad,  several  fathoms 
deep,  and  built  of  great  blocks  of  stone,  which  enormous 
work  surrounds  Venice  and  all  its  islands,  and  defends  it 
against  the  rising  of  the  sea. 

The  Venetians  have  the  greatest  admiration  for  the  clock 
placed  in  the  tower  bearing  its  name,  and  the  mechanism 
of  which  shows  the  progress  of  the  sun  and  moon  through 
the  twelve  signs  of  the  zodiac.  In  a  niche  above  the  dial- 
plate  is  an  image  of  the  Virgin,  which  is  gilded  and  life- 
size  ;  and  it  is  said  that  on  certain  fete  days,  each  blow  of 
the  pendulum  makes  two  angels  appear,  trumpet  in  hand, 
followed  by  the  Three  Wise  Men,  who  prostrate  themselves 
at  the  feet  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  I  saw  nothing  of  all  that, 
but  only  two  large  black  figures  striking  the  hour  on  the 
clock  with  iron  clubs. 

The  Doge's  palace  is  a  gloomy  building ;  and  the  prisons, 
which  are  separated  from  it  only  by  a  narrow  canal,  ren- 
der the  aspect  still  more  depressing. 

At  Venice  one  finds  merchants  from  every  nation,  Jews 
and  Greeks  being  very  numerous.  Roustan,  who  under- 
stood the  language  of  the  latter,  was  sought  after  by  the 
most  distinguished  among  them ;  and  the  heads  of  a  Greek 
family  came  one  day  to  invite  him  to  visit  them  at  their 
residence  on  one  of  the  islands  which  lie  around  Venice. 
Roustan  confided  to  me  his  desire  to  accept  this  invita- 
tion, and  I  was  delighted  with  his  proposition  that  I  should 
accompany  him.  On  our  arrival  at  their  island,  we  were 
received  by  our  hosts,  who  were  very  wealthy  merchants, 
as  if  we  had  been  old  friends.  The  apartment,  a  kind  of 
parlor  into  which  we  were  ushered,  not  only  evinced  cul- 
tivation and  refinement,  but  great  elegance ;  a  large  divan 


76  BECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

extended  around  the  hall,  the  inlaid  floor  of  which  was 
covered  with  artistically  woven  mats.  Our  hosts  were  six 
men  who  were  associated  in  the  same  trade.  I  would  have 
been  somewhat  embarrassed  had  not  one  of  them  who 
spoke  French  conversed  with  me,  while  the  others  talked 
to  Roustau  in  their  native  tongue.  We  were  offered  coffee, 
fruits,  ices,  and  pipes  ;  and  as  I  was  never  fond  of  smoking, 
and  knew  besides  the  disgust  inspired  in  the  Emperor  by 
odors  in  general,  and  especially  that  of  tobacco,  I  refused 
the  pipe,  and  expressed  a  fear  that  my  clothes  might  be 
scented  by  being  so  near  the  smokers.  I  thought  I  per- 
ceived that  this  delicacy  lowered  me  considerably  in  the 
esteem  of  my  hosts,  notwithstanding  which,  as  we  left,  they 
gave  us  most  urgent  invitations  to  repeat  our  visit,  which  it 
was  impossible  to  do,  as  the  Emperor  soon  after  left  Venice. 

On  my  return,  the  Emperor  asked  me  if  I  had  been 
through  the  city,  what  I  thought  of  it,  and  if  I  had  en- 
tered any  residences ;  in  fact,  what  seemed  to  me  worthy 
of  notice.  I  replied  as  well  as  I  could;  and  as  his  Majesty 
was  just  then  in  a  mood  for  light  conversation,  spoke  to 
him  of  our  excursion,  and  visit  to  the  Greek  family.  The 
Emperor  asked  me  what  these  Greeks  thought  of  him. 
"Sire,"  replied  I,  "the  one  who  spoke  French  seemed  en- 
tirely devoted  to  your  Majesty,  and  expressed  to  me  the 
hope  which  he  and  also  Ins  brothers  entertained,  that  the 
Emperor  of  the  French,  who  had  successfully  combated 
the  mamelukes  in  Egypt,  might  also  some  day  make  him- 
self the  liberator  of  Greece." 

"  Ah,  Monsieur  Constant,"  said  the  Emperor  to  me, 
pinching  me  sharply,  "you  are  meddling  with  politics."  — 
"Pardon  me,  Sire,  I  only  repeated  what  I  heard,  and  it  is 


IN   VENICE.  77 

not  astonishing  that  all  the  oppressed  count  on  your  Maj- 
esty's aid.  These  poor  Greeks  seem  to  love  their  country 
passionately,  and,  above  all,  detest  the  Turks  most  cor- 
dially."—  "That  is  good,"  said  his  Majesty;  "but  I  must 
first  of  all  attend  to  my  own  business.  Constant ! "  con- 
tinued his  Majesty  suddenly  changing  the  subject  of  this 
conversation  with  which  he  had  deigned  to  honor  me,  and 
smiling  with  an  ironical  air,  "what  do  you  think  of  the 
appearance  of  the  beautiful  Greek  women  ?  How  many 
models  have  you  seen  worthy  of  Canova  or  of  David?  "  I 
was  obliged  to  admit  to  his  Majesty  that  what  had  in- 
fluenced me  most  in  accepting  Roustan's  proposition  was 
the  hope  of  seeing  a  few  of  these  much  vaunted  beauties, 
and  that  I  had  been  cruelly  disappointed  in  not  having 
seen  the  shadow  of  a  woman.  At  this  frank  avowal  the 
Emperor,  who  had  expected  it  in  advance,  laughed  heartily, 
and  took  his  revenge  on  my  ears,  calling  me  a  libertine : 
"  You  do  not  know  then,  Monsieur  le  drdle,  that  your 
good  friends  the  Greeks  have  adopted  the  customs  of  those 
Turks  whom  they  detest  so  cordially,  and  like  them  seclude 
their  wives  and  daughters  in  order  that  they  may  never 
appear  before  bad  men  like  yourself." 

Although  the  Greek  ladies  of  Venice  may  be  carefully 
watched  by  their  husbands,  they  are  neither  secluded  nor 
guarded  in  a  seraglio  like  the  Turkish  women ;  for  during 
our  stay  at  Venice,  a  great  person  spoke  to  his  Majesty 
of  a  young  and  beautiful  Greek,  who  was  an  enthusiastic 
admirer  of  the  Emperor  of  the  French.  Tins  lady  was 
very  ambitious  of  being  received  by  his  Majesty  in  his 
private  rooms,  and  although  carefully  watched  by  a  jeal- 
ous husband,  had  found  means  to  send  to  the  Emperor  a 


78  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

letter  in  which  she  depicted  the  intensity  of  her  love  and 
admiration.  This  letter,  written  with  real  passion  and  in 
an  exalted  strain,  inspired  in  his  Majesty  a  desire  to  see 
and  know  the  author,  but  it  was  necessary  he  should  use 
precautions,  for  the  Emperor  was  not  the  man  to  abuse 
his  power  to  snatch  a  woman  from  her  husband ;  and  yet 
all  the  care  that  he  took  in  keeping  the  affair  secret  did 
not  prevent  her  husband  from  suspecting  the  plans  of  his 
wife,  and  before  it  was  possible  for  her  to  see  the  Emperor, 
she  was  carried  away  far  from  Venice,  and  her  prudent 
husband  carefully  covered  her  steps  and  concealed  her 
flight.  When  her  disappearance  was  announced  to  the 
Emperor:  "He  is  an  old  fool,"  said  his  Majesty,  laughing, 
"who  thinks  he  is  strong  enough  to  struggle  against  his 
destiny."  His  Majesty  formed  no  other  liaison  during 
our  stay  at  Venice. 

Before  leaving  this  city,  the  Emperor  rendered  a  de- 
cree which  was  received  with  inexpressible  enthusiasm, 
and  added  much  to  the  regret  which  his  Majesty's  depar- 
ture caused  the  inhabitants  of  Venice.  The  department 
of  the  Adriatic,  of  which  Venice  was  the  chief  city,  was 
enlarged  in  all  its  maritime  coasts,  from  the  town  of  Aquila 
as  far  as  Adria.  The  decree  ordered,  moreover,  that  the 
port  should  be  repaired,  the  canals  deepened  and  cleaned, 
the  great  wall  of  Palestrina  of  which  I  have  spoken  above, 
and  the  jetties  in  front  of  it,  extended  and  maintained  ; 
that  a  canal  of  communication  between  the  arsenal  of 
Venice  and  the  Pass  of  Mala-Mocco  should  be  dug ;  and 
finally  that  this  passage  itself  should  be  cleared  and  deep- 
ened sufficiently  for  vessels  of  the  line  of  seventy-four 
tons  burthen  to  pass  in  and  out. 


IN   VENICE.  79 

Other  articles  related  to  benevolent  establishments,  the 
administration  of  which  was  given  to  a  kind  of  council 
called  the  Congregation  of  Charities,  and  the  cession  to  the 
city  from  the  royal  domain  of  the  island  of  Saint  Christo- 
pher, to  be  used  as  a  general  cemetery ;  for  until  then  here, 
as  in  the  rest  of  Italy,  they  had  the  pernicious  custom  of 
interring  the  dead  in  churches.  Finally  the  decree  ordered 
the  adoption  of  a  new  mode  of  lighting  the  beautiful 
square  of  Saint  Mark,  the  construction  of  new  quays,  gate- 
ways, etc. 

When  we  left  Venice  the  Emperor  was  conducted  to 
the  shore  by  a  crowd  of  the  population  fully  as  numer- 
ous as  that  which  welcomed  his  arrival.  Trevise,  Undine, 
and  Mantua  rivaled  each  other  in  their  eagerness  to  re- 
ceive his  Majesty  in  a  becoming  manner.  King  Joseph 
had  left  the  Emperor  to  return  to  Naples ;  but  Prince 
Murat  and  the  vice-king  accompanied  his  Majesty. 

The  Emperor  stopped  only  two  or  three  days  at  Milan, 
and  continued  his  journey.  On  reaching  the  plains  of 
Marengo,  he  found  there  the  entire  population  of  Alex- 
andria awaiting  him,  and  was  received  by  the  light  of 
thousands  of  torches.  We  passed  through  Turin  without 
stopping,  and  on  the  30th  of  December  again  descended 
Mont  Cenis,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  1st  of  January 
arrived  at  the  Tuileries. 


80  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Arrival  at  Paris.  —  Representation  of  an  opera  composed  by  Paer. —  The 
theater  of  the  Tuileries. — M.  Fontaine,  architect.  —  Criticisms  of  the 
Emperor.  —  The  Arch  of  Triumph  on  the  Place  du  Carrousel  criticised 
by  the  Emperor.  —  A  plan  for  joining  the  Tuileries  to  the  Louvre.  —  Ex- 
tensive buildings  planned  by  the  Emperor.  — Restoration  of  the  chateau 
of  Versailles.  —  Note  of  the  Emperor  on  the  subject. — Visit  of  the  Em- 
peror to  David's  studio. — Picture  of  the  coronation. — The  Emperor's 
admiration. — M.  Vien. — Improvement  suggested  by  the  Emperor. — 
Anecdote  related  by  Marshal  Bessieres.  — The  painter  David  and  Cardi- 
nal Caprara's  wig.  —  A  long  visit.  —  Homage  rendered  by  the  Emperor 
to  a  great  artist.  —  Compliments  of  Josephine.  —  The  picture  of  the 
Sabines  in  the  hall  of  the  Council  of  State. 

We  arrived  in  Paris  on  the  1st  of  January  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening ;  and  as  the  theater  of  the  palace  of 
the  Tuileries  was  now  completed,  on  the  Sunday  following 
his  Majesty's  return  the  Griselda  of  M.  Paer  was  presented 
in  this  magnificent  hall.  Their  Majesties'  boxes  were  sit- 
uated in  front  of  the  curtain,  opposite  each  other,  and  pre- 
sented a  charming  picture,  with  their  hangings  of  crimson 
silk  draped  above,  and  forming  a  background  to  broad, 
movable  mirrors,  which  reflected  at  will  the  audience  or  the 
play.  The  Emperor,  still  impressed  with  the  recollections 
of  the  theaters  of  Italy,  criticised  unsparingly  that  of  the 
Tuileries,  saying  that  it  was  inconvenient,  badly  planned, 
and  much  too  large  for  a  palace  theater ;  but  notwithstand- 
ing all  these  criticisms,  when  the  day  of  inauguration  came, 
and  the  Emperor  was  convinced  of  the  very  great  ingenuity 
M.  Fontaine  had  shown  in  distributing  the  boxes  so  as  to 


THE  RUSSIAN   CAMPAIGN.  81 

fine  spectacle  which  this  army  presented,  calmly  re-forming 
its  columns  in  which  the  Russian  cannon  had  made  such 
wide  gaps,  and  proceeding  to  the  repose  of  the  bivouac 
with  the  security  which  conquerors  ever  feel.  The  Em- 
peror seemed  overcome  with  fatigue.  From  time  to  time 
he  clasped  his  hands  over  his  crossed  knees,  and  I  heard 
him  each  time  repeat,  with  a  kind  of  convulsive  movement, 
"Moscow!  Moscow!"  He  sent  me  several  times  to  see 
what  was  going  on  outside,  then  rose  himself,  and  coming 
up  behind  me  looked  out  over  my  shoulder.  The  noise 
made  by  the  sentinel  in  presenting  arms  each  time  warned 
me  of  his  approach.  After  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  of 
these  silent  marches  to  and  fro,  the  sentinel  advanced  and 
cried,  "  To  arms  !  "  and  like  a  lightning  flash  the  battalion 
square  was  formed  around  the  Emperor's  tent.  He  rushed 
out,  and  then  re-entered  to  take  his  hat  and  sword.  It 
proved  to  be  a  false  alarm,  as  a  regiment  of  Saxons  return- 
ing from  a  raid  had  been  mistaken  for  the  enemy. 

There  was  much  laughter  over  this  mistake,  especially 
when  the  raiders  came  in  sight,  some  bearing  quarters  of 
meat  spitted  on  the  ends  of  their  bayonets,  others  with 
half-picked  fowls  or  hams  which  made  the  mouth  water. 
I  was  standing  outside  the  tent,  and  shall  never  forget  the 
first  movement  of  the  sentinel  as  he  gave  the  cry  of  alarm. 
He  lowered  the  stock  of  his  gun  to  see  if  the  priming  was 
in  place,  shook  the  barrel  by  striking  it  with  his  fist,  then 
replaced  the  gun  on  his  arm,  saying,  "  Well,  let  them  come  ; 
we  are  ready  for  them."  I  told  the  occurrence  to  the 
Emperor,  who  in  his  turn  related  it  to  Prince  Berthier : 
and  in  consequence  the  Emperor  made  this  brave  soldier 
drink  a  glass  of  his  best  Chambertin  wine. 


82  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

It  was  the  Duke  of  Dantzic  who  first  entered  Moscow, 
and  the  Emperor  came  only  after  him.  This  entry  was 
made  in  the  night,  and  never  was  there  a  more  depressing 
scene.  There  was  something  truly  frightful  in  this  silent 
march  of  an  army  halted  at  intervals  by  messages  from 
inside  the  city,  which  seemed  to  be  of  a  most  ominous 
character.  No  Muscovite  figures  could  be  distinguished 
except  those  of  a  few  beggars  covered  with  rags,  who 
watched  with  stupid  astonishment  the  army  file  past;  and 
as  some  few  of  these  appeared  to  be  begging  alms,  our 
soldiers  threw  them  bread  and  a  few  pieces  of  money. 
I  cannot  prevent  a  sad  reflection  on  these  unfortunate  crea- 
tures, whose  condition  alone  remains  unchanged  through 
great  political  upheavals,  and  who  are  totally  without 
affection  and  without  national  sympathies. 

As  we  advanced  on  the  streets  of  the  faubourgs,  we 
looked  through  the  windows  on  each  side,  and  were  aston- 
ished to  perceive  no  human  being;  and  if  a  solitary 
light  appeared  in  the  windows  of  a  few  houses,  it  was  soon 
extinguished,  and  these  signs  of  life  so  suddenly  effaced 
made  a  terrible  impression.  The  Emperor  halted  at  the 
faubourg  of  Dorogomilow,  and  spent  the  night  there,  not 
in  an  inn,  as  has  been  stated,  but  in  a  house  so  filthy  and 
wretched  that  next  morning  we  found  in  the  Emperor's 
bed,  and  on  his  clothes,  vermin  which  are  by  no  means  un- 
common in  Russia.  We  were  tormented  by  them  also  to 
our  great  disgust,  and  the  Emperor  did  not  sleep  during 
the  whole  night  he  passed  there.  According  to  custom,  I 
slept  in  his  chamber;  and  notwithstanding  the  precaution 
I  had  taken  to  burn  vinegar  and  aloes  wood,  the  odor  was 
so  disagreeable  that  every  moment  the  Emperor  called  me. 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAMPAIGN.  83 

"  Are  you  asleep,  Constant?  "  —  "  No,  Sire."  —  "  My  son, 
burn  more  vinegar,  I  cannot  endure  this  frightful  odor;  it 
is  a  torment;  I  cannot  sleep."  I  did  my  best;  but  a  mo- 
ment after,  when  the  fumes  of  the  vinegar  were  evaporated, 
he  again  recommended  me  to  burn  sugar  or  aloes  wood. 

It  was  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  he  was  in- 
formed that  a  fire  had  broken  out  in  the  city.  The  news 
was  received  through  Frenchmen  residing  in  this  country, 
and  an  officer  of  the  Russian  police  confirmed  the  report, 
and  entered  into  details  too  precise  for  the  Emperor  to 
doubt  the  fact.  Nevertheless,  he  still  persisted  in  not 
believing  it.  "That  is  not  possible.  Do  you  believe  that, 
Constant?  Go,  and  find  out  if  it  is  true."  And  thereupon 
he  threw  himself  again  on  his  bed,  trying  to  rest  a  little ; 
then  he  recalled  me  to  make  the  same  inquiries. 

The  Emperor  passed  the  night  in  extreme  agitation, 
and  when  daylight  came  he  knew  all.  He  had  Marshal 
Mortier  called,  and  reprimanded  both  him  and  the  young 
guard.  Mortier  in  reply  showed  him  houses  covered  with 
iron  the  roofs  of  which  were  uninjured,  but  the  Emperor 
pointed  out  to  him  the  black  smoke  which  was  issuing  from 
them,  pressed  his  hands  together,  and  stamped  his  heels  on 
the  rough  planks  of  his  sleeping-room. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  we  were  at  the  palace  of 
the  Kremlin,  where  Napoleon  occupied  the  apartment  of  the 
Czars,  which  opened  on  a  vast  esplanade  reached  by  a 
broad  stone  staircase.  On  this  same  esplanade  could  be 
seen  the  church  in  which  were  the  tombs  of  the  ancient 
sovereigns,  also  the  senatorial  palace,  the  barracks,  the 
arsenal,  and  a  splendid  clock  tower,  the  cross  on  which 
towers  above  the  whole  city.     This  is  the  gilded  cross  of 


84  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

Ivan.  The  Emperor  threw  a  satisfied  glance  over  the 
beautiful  scene  spread  out  before  him ;  for  no  sign  of  fire 
was  yet  seen  in  all  the  buildings  which  surrounded  the 
Kremlin.  This  palace  is  a  mixture  of  Gothic  and  modern 
architecture,  and  this  mingling  of  the  two  styles  gives  it  ;i 
most  singular  appearance. 

Within  these  walls  lived  and  died  the  old  dynasties  of 
the  Romanoff  and  Ruric  ;  and  this  is  the  same  palace  which 
has  been  so  often  stained  with  blood  by  the  intrigues  of  a 
ferocious  court,  at  a  period  when  all  quarrels  were  settled 
with  the  poniard.  His  Majesty  could  not  obtain  there 
even  a  few  hours  of  quiet  sleep. 

In  fact,  the  Emperor,  somewhat  reassured  by  the  reports 
of  Marshal  Mortier,  was  dictating  to  the  Emperor  Alexan- 
der words  of  peace,  and  a  Russian  flag  of  truce  was  about 
to  bear  this  letter,  when  the  Emperor,  who  was  promenad- 
ing the  length  and  breadth  of  his  apartment,  perceived  from 
his  windows  a  brilliant  light  some  distance  from  the  palace. 
It  was  the  fire,  which  had  burst  out  again  fiercer  than  ever ; 
and  as  the  wind  from  the  north  was  now  driving  the  flames 
in  the  direction  of  the  Kremlin,  the  alarm  was  given  by 
two  officers  who  occupied  the  wing  of  the  building  nearest 
the  fire.  Wooden  houses  of  many  various  colors  were  de- 
voured in  a  few  moments,  and  had  already  fallen  in ;  mag- 
azines of  oil,  brandy,  and  other  combustible  materials,  threw 
out  flames  of  a  lurid  hue,  which  were  communicated  with 
the  rapidity  of  lightning  to  other  adjoining  buildings.  A 
shower  of  sparks  and  coals  fell  on  the  roofs  of  the  Kremlin ; 
and  one  shudders  to  think  that  one  of  these  sparks  alone 
falling  on  a  caisson  might  have  produced  a  general  explo- 
sion, and  blown  up  the  Kremlin  ;   for  by  an  inconceivable 


BURNING   OF  MOSCOW.  85 

negligence  a  whole  park  of  artillery  had  been  placed  under 
the  Emperor's  windows. 

Soon  most  incredible  reports  reached  the  Emperor;  some 
said  that  Russians  had  been  seen  stirring  the  fire  them- 
selves, and  throwing  inflammable  material  into  the  parts  of 
houses  still  unburned,  while  those  of  the  Russians  who  did 
not  mingle  with  the  incendiaries,  stood  with  folded  arms, 
contemplating  the  disaster  with  an  imperturbability  which 
cannot  be  described.  Except  for  the  absence  of  cries  of 
joy  and  clapping  of  hands  they  might  have  been  taken  for 
men  who  witness  a  brilliant  display  of  fireworks.  It  was 
soon  very  evident  to  the  Emperor  that  it  was  a  concerted 
plot  laid  by  the  enemy. 

He  descended  from  his  apartment  by  the  great  northern 
staircase  made  famous  by  the  massacre  of  the  Strelitz. 
The  fire  had  already  made  such  enormous  progress  that  on 
this  side  the  outside  doors  were  half  burned  through,  and 
the  horses  refused  to  pass,  reared,  and  it  was  with  much 
difficulty  they  could  be  made  to  clear  the  gates.  The 
Emperor  had  his  gray  overcoat  burned  in  several  places, 
and  even  his  hair;  and  a  moment  later  Ave  were  walking 
over  burning  firebrands. 

We  were  not  yet  out  of  danger,  and  were  obliged  to 
steer  clear  of  the  burning  rubbish  which  encumbered  our 
path.  Several  outlets  were  tried,  but  unsuccessfully,  as 
the  hot  breezes  from  the  fire  struck  against  our  faces,  and 
drove  us  back  in  terrible  confusion.  At  last  a  postern 
opening  on  the  Moskwa  was  discovered,  and  it  was  through 
this  the  Emperor  with  his  officers  and  guard  succeeded 
in  escaping  from  the  Kremlin,  but  only  to  re-enter  narrow 
streets,    where     the    fire,    inclosed    as    in    a    furnace,   was 


86  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

increased  in  intensity,  and  uniting  above  our  heads  the 
flames  thus  formed  a  burning  dome,  which  overshad- 
owed us,  and  hid  from  us  the  heavens.  It  was  time 
to  leave  this  dangerous  place  from  which  one  means  of 
egress  alone  was  open  to  us,  —  a  narrow,  winding  street 
encumbered  with  debris  of  every  kind,  composed  of  flaming 
beams  fallen  from  the  roofs,  and  burning  posts.  There 
was  a  moment  of  hesitation  among  us,  in  which  some 
proposed  to  the  Emperor  to  cover  him  from  head  to  foot 
with  their  cloaks,  and  transport  him  thus  in  their  arms 
through  this  dangerous  passage.  This  proposition  the 
Emperor  rejected,  and  settled  the  question  by  throwing 
himself  on  foot  into  the  midst  of  the  blazing  debris,  where 
two  or  three  vigorous  jumps  put  him  in  a  place  of  safety. 

Then  ensued  a  touching  scene  between  the  Emperor 
and  the  Prince  of  Eckmuhl,  who,  wounded  at  the  Moskwa, 
had  himself  borne  back  in  order  to  attempt  to  save  the 
Emperor,  or  to  die  with  him.  From  a  distance  the  marshal 
perceived  him  calmly  emerging  from  so  great  a  peril ;  and 
this  good  and  tender  friend  by  an  immense  effort  hastened 
to  throw  himself  into  the  Emperor's  arms,  and  his  Majesty 
pressed  him  to  his  heart  as  if  to  thank  him  for  rousing 
such  gentle  emotions  at  a  moment  when  danger  usually 
renders  men  selfish  and  egotistical. 

At  length  the  air  itself,  filled  with  all  these  flaming 
masses,  became  so  heated  that  it  could  no  longer  be 
breathed.  The  atmosphere  itself  was  burning,  the  glass 
of  the  windows  cracked,  and  apartments  became  unten- 
able. The  Emperor  stood  for  a  moment  immovable,  his 
face  crimson,  and  great  drops  of  perspiration  rolling  from 
his  brow,  while  the  King  of  Naples,  Prince  Eugene,  and 


RETREAT  FROM  MOSCOW.  87 

the  Prince  de  Neuchatel  begged  him  to  quit  the  palace, 
whose  entreaties  he  answered  only  by  impatient  gestures. 
At  this  instant  cries  came  from  the  wing  of  the  palace 
situated  farthest  to  the  north,  announcing  that  the  walls 
had  fallen,  and  that  the  fire  was  spreading  with  frightful 
rapidity ;  and  seeing  at  last  that  his  position  was  no  longer 
tenable,  the  Emperor  admitted  that  it  was  time  to  leave, 
and  repaired  to  the  imperial  chateau  of  Petrovskoi. 

On  his  arrival  at  Petrovskoi  the  Emperor  ordered 
M.  de  Narbonne  to  inspect  a  palace  which  I  think  had 
belonged  to  Catherine.  This  was  a  beautiful  building,  and 
the  apartments  handsomely  furnished.  M.  de  Narbonne 
returned  with  this  information ;  but  almost  immediately 
flames  burst  from  every  side,  and  it  was  soon  consumed. 

Such  was  the  fury  of  these  wretches  who  were  hired 
to  burn  everything,  that  the  boats  which  covered  the 
Moskwa  laden  with  grain,  oats,  and  other  provisions,  were 
burned,  and  sunk  beneath  the  waves  with  a  horrible 
crackling  sound.  Soldiers  of  the  Russian  police  had  been 
seen  stirring  up  the  fire  with  tarred  lances,  and  in  the 
ovens  of  some  houses  shells  had  been  placed  which 
wounded  many  of  our  soldiers  in  exploding. 

In  the  streets  filthy  women  and  hideous,  drunken  men 
ran  to  the  burning  houses  and  seized  flaming  brands,  which 
they  carried  in  every  direction,  and  which  our  soldiers  were 
obliged  repeatedly  to  knock  out  of  their  hands  with  the 
hilts  of  their  swords  before  they  would  relinquish  them. 
The  Emperor  ordered  that  these  incendiaries  when  taken 
in  the  act  should  be  hung  to  posts  in  the  public  squares ; 
and  the  populace  prostrated  themselves  around  these 
gallows,  kissing  the  feet  of  those  executed,  praying,   and 


88  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

signing  themselves  with  the  sign  of  the  cross.     Such  fanat- 
icism is  almost  unparalleled. 

One  incident  of  which  I  was  a  witness  proves  that 
those  hired  to  carry  out  this  vast  plot  acted,  evidently, 
according  to  instructions  given  by  higher  authorities.  A 
man  covered  with  a  sheepskin,  old  and  tattered,  with 
a  miserable  cap  on  his  head,  boldly  mounted  the  steps 
of  the  Kremlin.  Under  this  filthy  disguise  an  elegant 
costume  was  concealed ;  and  when  a  stricter  surveillance 
was  instituted,  this  bold  beggar  himself  was  suspected, 
arrested,  and  carried  before  the  police,  where  he  was 
questioned  by  the  officer  of  the  post.  As  he  made  some 
resistance,  thinking  this  proceeding  somewhat  arbitrary, 
the  sentinel  put  his  hand  on  his  breast  to  force  him  to 
enter ;  and  this  somewhat  abrupt  movement  pushing  aside 
the  sheepskin  which  covered  him,  decorations  were  seen, 
and  when  his  disguise  was  removed  he  was  recognized  as 
a  Russian  officer.  He  had  on  his  person  matches  which 
he  had  been  distributing  to  the  men  of  the  people,  and 
when  questioned  admitted  that  he  was  specially  charged 
to  keep  alive  the  fire  of  the  Kremlin.  Many  questions 
were  asked,  each  eliciting  new  confessions,  all  of  which 
were  made  in  the  most  indifferent  manner,  and  he  was 
put  in  prison,  and  was,  I  think,  punished  as  an  incendiary ; 
but  of  this  I  am  not  certain.  When  any  of  these  wretches 
were  brought  before  the  Emperor,  he  shrugged  his  shoulders, 
and  with  gestures  of  scorn  and  anger  ordered  that  they 
should  be  removed  from  his  sight,  and  the  grenadiers 
sometimes  executed  justice  on  them  with  their  bayonets; 
but  such  exasperation  can  be  well  understood  in  soldiers 
thus  driven  by  these  base  and  odious  measures  from  a 
resting-place  earned  by  the  sword. 


RETREAT  FROM  MOSCOW.  89 

In  Petrovskoi,  a  pretty  residence  belonging  to  one  of 
Alexander's  chamberlains,  a  man  was  found  concealed  in 
one  of  the  apartments  his  Majesty  was  to  occupy ;  but 
not  being  armed  he  was  released,  as  it  was  concluded 
that  fright  alone  had  driven  him  into  this  dwelling.  The 
Emperor  arrived  during  the  night  at  his  new  residence, 
and  waited  there  in  intense  anxiety  till  the  fire  should 
be  extinguished  at  the  Kremlin,  intending  to  return  thither, 
for  the  pleasure  house  of  a  chamberlain  was  no  suitable 
place  for  his  Majesty.  Thanks  to  the  active  and  coura- 
geous actions  of  a  battalion  of  the  guard,  the  Kremlin  was 
preserved  from  the  flames,  and  the  Emperor  thereupon 
gave  the  signal  for  departure. 

In  order  to  re-enter  Moscow  it  was  necessary  to  cross 
the  camp,  or  rather  the  several  camps,  of  the  army ;  and  we 
wended  our  way  over  cold  and  miry  ground,  through  fields 
where  all  was  devastation  and  ruin.  This  camp  presented 
a  most  singular  aspect ;  and  I  experienced  feelings  of  bit- 
ter melancholy  as  I  saw  our  soldiers  compelled  to  bivouac 
at  the  gates  of  a  large  and  beautiful  cit}*  of  which  they  were 
the  conquerors,  but  the  fire  still  more  than  they.  The 
Emperor,  on  appointing  Marshal  Mortier  governor  of  Mos- 
cow, had  said  to  him,  wi  Above  all,  no  pillage  ;  you  will 
answer  for  it  with  your  head."  The  order  was  strictly- 
enforced  up  to  the  moment  the  fire  began ;  but  when  it  was 
evident  that  the  fire  would  devour  everything,  and  that 
it  was  useless  to  abandon  to  the  flames  what  would  be  of 
much  value  to  the  soldiers,  liberty  was  given  them  to  draw 
largely  from  this  great  storehouse  of  the  north. 

It  was  at  once  sad  and  amusing  to  see  around  poor  plank 
sheds,  the  only  tents  our  soldiers  had,  the  most  magnificent 


90  BECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

furniture,  silk  canopies,  priceless  Siberian  furs,  and  cashmere 
shawls  thrown  pell-mell  with  silver  dishes ;  and  then  to  see 
the  food  served  on  these  princely  dishes,  —  miserable  black 
gruel,  and  pieces  of  horseflesh  still  bleeding.  Good  ammu- 
nition-bread was  worth  at  this  time  treble  all  these  riches, 
and  there  came  a  time  when  they  had  not  even  horseflesh. 

On  re-entering  Moscow  the  wind  bore  to  us  the  insuffer- 
able odor  of  burning  houses,  warm  ashes  filled  our  mouths 
and  eyes,  and  frequently  we  drew  back  just  in  time  before 
great  pillars  which  had  been  burned  in  two  by  the  fire,  and 
fell  noiselessly  on  this  calcined  soil.  Moscow  was  not  so 
deserted  as  we  had  thought.  As  the  first  impression  con- 
quest produces  is  one  of  fright,  all  the  inhabitants  who 
remained  had  concealed  themselves  in  cellars,  or  in  the  im- 
mense vaults  which  extend  under  the  Kremlin  ;  and  driven 
out  by  the  fire  like  wolves  from  their  lairs,  when  we  re-en- 
tered the  city  nearly  twenty  thousand  inhabitants  were 
wandering  through  the  midst  of  the  debris,  a  dull  stupor 
depicted  on  faces  blackened  with  smoke,  and  pale  with 
hunger ;  for  they  could  not  comprehend  how  having  gone  to 
sleep  under  human  roofs,  they  had  risen  next  morning  on 
a  plain.  They  were  in  the  last  extremity  of  want;  a  few 
vegetables  only  remained  in  the  gardens,  and  these  were 
devoured  raw,  while  many  of  these  unfortunate  creatures 
threw  themselves  at  different  times  into  the  Moskwa,  en- 
deavoring to  recover  some  of  the  grain  cast  therein  by 
Rostopchin's  :  orders ;  and  a  large  number  perished  in  the 
water  in  these  fruitless  efforts.     Such  was  the  scene  of  dis- 


1  Count  Feodor  Rostopchin,  born  1765;  died  182fi.  He  denied  that  Mos- 
cow was  burnt  by  bis  authority.  He  claimed  that  it  was  burnt  partly  by  the 
French,  and  partly  by  Russians  without  orders.  — Trans. 


IN  MOSCOW.  91 

tress  through  which  the  Emperor  was  obliged  to  pass  in 
order  to  reach  the  Kremlin. 

The  apartments  which  he  occupied  were  spacious  and 
well  lighted,  but  almost  devoid  of  furniture ;  but  his  iron 
bedstead  was  set  up  there,  as  in  all  the  chateaux  he  occupied 
in  his  campaigns.  His  windows  opened  on  the  Moskwa, 
and  from  there  the  fire  could  still  be  plainly  seen  in  various 
quarters  of  the  city,  reappearing  on  one  side  as  soon  as 
extinguished  on  the  other.  His  Majesty  said  to  me  one 
evening  with  deep  feeling,  "  These  wretches  will  not  leave 
one  stone  upon  another.'"  I  do  not  believe  there  was  ever 
in  any  country  as  many  blizzards  as  at  Moscow.  The 
Emperor  was  annoyed  by  their  presence,  and  exclaimed, 
"  Mon  Dieu  !  will  they  follow  us  everywhere  ?  " 

There  were  a  few  concerts  during  our  stay  at  the 
Emperor's  residence  in  Moscow ;  but  Napoleon  seemed  much 
dejected  when  he  appeared  at  them,  for  the  music  of  the 
saloons  made  no  impression  on  his  harassed  mind,  and  the 
only  kind  that  ever  seemed  to  stir  his  soul  was  that  of 
the  camp  before  and  after  a  battle. 

The  day  after  the  Emperor's  arrival,  Messieurs  Ed 

and  V repaired  to  the  Kremlin  in  order  to  interview 

his  Majesty,  and  after  waiting  some  time  without  seeing 
him,  were  expressing  their  mutual  regret  at  having  failed 
in  this  expectation,  when  they  suddenly  heard  a  shutter 
open  above  their  heads,  and,  raising  their  eyes,  recognized 
the  Emperor,  who  said,  "  Messieurs,  who  are  you  ? "  — 
"Sire,  we  are  Frenchmen!"  He  requested  them  to  mount 
the  stairs  to  the  room  he  occupied,  and  there  continued  liis 
questions.  "  What  is  the  nature  of  the  occupation  which 
has  detained  you  in  Moscow?"  —  "We  are  tutors  in  the 


92  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

families  of  two  Russian  noblemen,  whom  the  arrival  of  the 
French  troops  have  driven  from  their  homes.  We  have 
submitted  to  the  entreaties  made  by  them  not  to  abandon 
their  property,  and  we  are  at  present  alone  in  their  pal- 
aces." The  Emperor  inquired  of  them  if  there  were  still 
other  Frenchmen  at  Moscow,  and  asked  that  they  should 
be  brought  to  him ;  and  then  proposed  that  they  should 
charge  themselves  with  maintaining  order,  appointing   as 

chief,   M.  M ,  whom   he    decorated  with   a  tri-colored 

scarf.  He  recommended  them  to  prevent  the  pillage  of 
the  French  soldiers  in  the  churches,  and  to  have  the 
malefactors  shot,  and  enjoined  them  to  use  great  rigor 
towards  the  galley-slaves,  whom  Rostopchin  had  pardoned 
on  condition  that  they  would  set  fire  to  the  city. 

A  part  of  these  Frenchmen  followed  our  army  in  its 
retreat,  seeing  that  a  longer  stay  at  Moscow  would  be  most 
disagreeable  to  them;  and  those  who  did  not  follow  their 
example  were  condemned  to  work  on  the  streets. 

The  Emperor  Alexander,  when  informed  of  the  meas- 
ures of  Rostopchin,  harshly  rebuked  the  governor,  and 
ordered  him  at  once  to  restore  to  liberty  these  unfortunate 
Frenchmen. 


IN  MOSCOW.  93 


CHAPTER   VI. 

The  Muscovites  asking  alms.  —  The  Emperor  has  food  and  money  given  them. 
—  A  day  at  the  Kremlin.  —  The  Emperor  employs  his  time  in  munici- 
pal organization. — A  theater  opened  near  the  Kremlin. — The  Italian 
singer. — Retreat  is  discussed.  —  His  Majesty  prolongs  his  meals  more 
than  usual.  — Regulations  as  to  French  comedy.  —  Engagement  between 
Murat  and  Kutuzow.  —  The  churches  of  the  Kremlin  stripped  of  their 
ornaments. — The  reviews.  —  The  Kremlin  is  blown  up.  —  The  Emperor 
takes  the  road  to  Smolensk.  —  Flocks  of  buzzards.  —  The  wounded  of 
Oupinskoe.  — Each  carriage  in  the  suit  carries  one.  —  Injustice  of  accu- 
sations of  cruelty  against  the  Emperor.  —  Explosion  of  caissons.  — 
Headquarters. — Cossacks. — The  Emperor  is  informed  of  the  conspir- 
acy of  Malet.  — General  Savary.  —  Arrival  at  Smolensk.  — The  Emperor 
and  the  commissary-general  of  the  grand  army.  —  The  Emperor  releases 
the  Prince  of  Eckmuhl.  —  Let  us  guard  the  safety  of  the  Empire.  —  In- 
defatigable activity  of  the  Emperor. — The  stragglers.  —  The  corps  of 
Marshal  Davoust. — His  rage  when  he  finds  it  dying  of  hunger.  —  Mar- 
shal Ney  is  found.  —  Speech  of  Napoleon.  —  Prince  Eugene  weeps  for 
joy.  —  Marshal  Lefebvre. 

We  re-entered  the  Kremlin  the  morning  of  the  18th  of 
September.  The  palace  and  the  hospital  for  foundlings 
were  almost  the  only  buildings  remaining  uninjured.  On 
the  route  our  carriages  were  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of 
miserable  Muscovites  begging  alms.  They  followed  us  as 
far  as  the  palace,  walking  through  hot  ashes,  or  over  the 
heated  stones,  which  crumbled  beneath  their  feet.  The 
poorest  were  barefoot;  and  it  was  a  heart-rending  sight 
to  see  these  creatures,  as  their  feet  touched  the  burning 
debris,  give  vent  to  their  sufferings  by  screams  and  ges- 
tures of  despair.  As  the  only  unencumbered  part  of  the 
street  was   occupied   by  our  carriages,  this  swarm  threw 


94  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

themselves  pell-mell  against  the  wheels  or  under  the  feet 
of  our  horses.  Our  progress  was  consequently  very  slow, 
and  we  had  so  much  the  longer  under  our  eyes  this  pic- 
ture of  the  greatest  of  all  miseries,  that  of  a  people  burned 
out  of  their  homes,  and  without  food  or  the  means  to  pro- 
cure it.     The  Emperor  had  food  and  money  given  them. 

When  we  were  again  established  at  the  Kremlin,  and 
had  resumed  our  regular  routine  of  living,  a  few  days 
passed  in  perfect  tranquillity.  The  Emperor  appeared  less 
sad,  and  in  consequence  those  surrounding  him  became 
somewhat  more  cheerful.  It  seemed  as  if  we  had  returned 
from  the  campaign,  and  taken  up  again  the  customary  occu- 
pations of  city  life ;  but  if  the  Emperor  sometimes  indulged 
in  this  illusion,  it  was  soon  dispelled  by  the  sight  Moscow 
presented  as  seen  from  the  windows  of  his  apartments,  and 
each  time  Napoleon's  eyes  turned  in  that  direction  it  was 
evident  that  he  was  oppressed  by  the  saddest  presenti- 
ments, although  he  no  longer  manifested  the  same  vehement 
impatience  as  on  his  first  stay  at  the  palace,  when  he  saw 
the  flames  surrounding  him  and  driving  him  from  his  apart- 
ments. But  he  exhibited  the  depressing  calm  of  a  care- 
worn man  who  cannot  foresee  how  things  will  result.  The 
days  were  long  at  the  Kremlin  while  the  Emperor  awaited 
Alexander's  reply,  which  never  came.  At  this  time  I 
noticed  that  the  Emperor  kept  constantly  on  his  table 
Voltaire's  history  of  Charles  XII. 

The  Emperor  was  a  prey  to  his  genius  for  administra- 
tion, even  in  the  midst  of  the  ruins  of  this  great  city ;  and 
in  order  to  divert  his  mind  from  the  anxiety  caused  by 
outside  affairs,  occupied  himself  with  municipal  organiza- 
tion, and  had  already  arranged  that  Moscow  should  be 
stocked  with  provisions  for  the  winter. 


IN  MOSCOW.  95 

A  theater  was  erected  near  the  Kremlin,  but  the  Empe- 
ror never  attended.  The  troupe  was  composed  of  a  few 
unfortunate  French  actors,  who  had  remained  in  Moscow  in 
a  state  of  utter  destitution ;  but  his  Majesty  encouraged  this 
enterprise  in  the  hope  that  theatrical  representations  would 
offer  some  diversion  to  both  officers  and  soldiers.  It  was 
said  that  the  first  actors  of  Paris  had  been  ordered  to  Mos- 
cow, but  of  that  I  know  nothing  positively.  There  was 
at  Moscow  a  celebrated  Italian  singer  whom  the  Emperor 
heard  several  times,  but  only  in  his  apartments,  and  he  did 
not  form  part  of  the  regular  troupe. 

Until  the  18th  of  October  the  time  was  spent  in  dis- 
cussions, more  or  less  heated,  between  the  Emperor  and  his 
generals,  as  to  the  best  course  to  be  pursued.  Every  one 
well  knew  that  retreat  had  now  become  inevitable,  and  the 
Emperor  was  well  aware  of  this  fact  himself ;  but  it  was 
plainly  evident  that  it  cost  his  pride  a  terrible  struggle 
to  speak  the  decisive  word.  The  last  days  preceding  the 
18th  were  the  saddest  I  have  ever  known.  In  his  ordinary 
intercourse  with  his  friends  and  counselors  his  Majesty 
manifested  much  coldness  of  manner ;  he  became  taciturn, 
and  entire  hours  passed  without  any  one  present  having 
the  courage  to  begin  a  conversation.  The  Emperor,  who 
was  generally  so  hurried  at  his  meals,  prolonged  them 
most  surprisingly.  Sometimes  during  the  day  he  threw 
himself  on  a  sofa,  a  romance  in  his  hand  which  he  simply 
pretended  to  read,  and  seemed  absorbed  in  deep  revery. 
Verses  were  sent  to  him  from  Paris  which  he  read  aloud, 
expressing  his  opinion  in  a  brief  and  trenchant  style ;  he 
spent  three  days  writing  regulations  for  the  French  comedy 
at  Paris.     It  is   difficult  to  understand  this  attention  to 


96  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

such  frivolous  details  when  the  future  was  so  ominous.  It 
was  generally  believed,  and  probably  not  without  reason, 
that  the  Emperor  acted  thus  from  motives  of  deep  policy, 
and  that  these  regulations  for  the  French  comedy  at  this 
time,  when  no  bulletin  had  yet  arrived  to  give  informa- 
tion of  the  disastrous  position  of  the  French  army,  were 
written  with  the  object  of  making  an  impression  on  the 
inhabitants  of  Paris,  who  would  not  fail  to  say,  "  All  can- 
not be  going  so  badly,  since  the  Emperor  has  time  to 
occupy  himself  with  the  theater." 

The  news  received  on  the  18th  put  an  end  to  all  uncer- 
tainty. The  Emperor  was  reviewing,  in  the  first  court  of 
the  Kremlin  palace,  the  divisions  of  Ney,  distributing  the 
cross  to  the  bravest  among  them,  and  addressing  encoura- 
ging words  to  all,  when  an  aide-de-camp,  young  Beranger, 
brought  the  news  that  a  sharp  engagement  had  taken  place 
at  Winkowo  between  Murat  and  Kutusoff,  and  that  the 
vanguard  of  Murat  had  been  overwhelmed  and  our  position 
taken.  Russia's  intention  to  resume  hostilities  was  now 
plainly  evident,  and  in  the  first  excitement  of  the  news  the 
Emperor's  astonishment  was  at  its  height.  There  was,  on 
the  contrary,  among  the  soldiers  of  Marshal  Ney  an  electric 
movement  of  enthusiasm  and  anger  which  was  very  gratify- 
ing to  his  Majesty.  Charmed  to  see  how  the  shame  of  a 
defeat,  even  when  sustained  without  dishonor,  excited  the 
pride  and  aroused  a  desire  to  retrieve  it  in  these  impas- 
sioned souls,  the  Emperor  pressed  the  hand  of  the  colonel 
nearest  to  him,  continued  the  review,  and  ordered  that 
evening  a  concentration  of  all  the  corps ;  and  before  night 
the  whole  army  was  in  motion  towards  Woronowo. 

A  few  days  before  quitting  Moscow,  the  Emperor  hud 


T  BORDEAUX.  97 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Journey  of  the  Emperor  and  Empress.  —  Stay  at  Bordeaux  and  Bayonne.  — 
Arrival  of  Don  Carlos,  the  Infant  of  Spain.  —  Sickness  of  the  child  and 
the  Emperor's  attentions.  — The  chateau  of  Marrac.  — The  dance  of  the 
Basques.  —  Basque  costumes.  —  Letter  addressed  to  the  Emperor  by  the 
Prince  of  the  Asturias.  —  The  Emperor's  surprise.  —  Cortege  sent  by  the 
Emperor  to  meet  the  prince.  —  Entrance  of  the  prince  into  Bayonne. — 
The  prince  dissatisfied  with  his  lodgings.  —  Interview  between  the  prince 
and  the  Emperor.  —  The  princes  and  grandees  of  Spain  dine  with  Napo- 
leon.—  Harshness  of  Napoleon  towards  Prince  Ferdinand.  —  Arrival  of 
the  Empress  at  Marrac.  —  Arrival  of  the  King  and  Queen  of  Spain  at 
Bayonne.  —  Anecdote  of  bad  augury  related  to  the  Prince  of  the  Asturias. 
—  French  service  of  honor  used  by  their  Spanish  majesties.  —  Ceremony 
of  kissing  the  hand.  — The  Prince  of  the  Asturias  coldly  welcomed  by  his 
father  the  king.  —  Arrival  of  the  Prince  de  la  Paix.  —  Interview  between 
the  Emperor  and  the  King  of  Spain.  —  Grief  of  this  monarch.  — Cruelty 
shown  to  Don  Manual  Godo'i  in  his  prison.  — Equipage  of  the  King  and 
Queen  of  Spain. — Description  and  habits  of  the  king.  —  Description  of 
the  queen.  —  Lessons  in  French  toilet.  — Taciturnity  of  the  Prince  of  the 
Asturias  (King  Ferdinand  VII.).  —  Affection  of  the  king  for  Godo'i.  —  The 
princes  of  Spain  at  Fontainebleau  and  Valencay.  —  The  King  of  Spain's 
fondness  for  private  life.  —  Fondness  of  Charles  IV.  for  clock-work. — 
The  confessor  whistled  for.  —  Charles  IV.  in  his  old  age  takes  lessons 
on  the  violin.  —  Alexander  Boucher.  —  Etiquette  and  the  royal  duet.  — 
Arrival  at  Bayonne  of  Joseph  Bonaparte,  King  of  Spain.  —  Joseph  com- 
plimented by  the  deputies  of  the  Junta.  — M.  de  Cevallos  and  the  Duke 
of  Infantado  at  the  court  of  the  new  king. 

Aftee  remaining  about  a  week  at  the  chateau  of  Saint- 
Cloud,  his  Majesty  set  out,  on  the  2d  of  April,  at  11  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  to  visit  the  departments  of  the  South ;  and 
as  this  journey  was  to  begin  at  Bordeaux,  the  Emperor 
requested  the  Empress  to  meet  him  there.  This  publicly 
announced  intention  was  simply  a  pretext,  in  order,  to  mis- 


98  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

lead  the  curious,  for  we  knew  that  we  were  going  to  the 
frontier  of  Spain. 

The  Emperor  remained  barely  ten  days  there,  and  then 
left  for  Bayonne  alone,  leaving  the  Empress  at  Bordeaux, 
and  reaching  Bayonne  on  the  night  of  the  14-15th  of 
April,  where  her  Majesty  the  Empress  rejoined  him  two  or 
three  days  afterwards. 

The  Prince  of  Neuchatel  and  the  grand  marshal  lodged 
at  the  chateau  of  Marrac,  the  rest  of  their  Majesties'  suite 
lodged  at  Bayonne  and  its  suburbs,  the  guard  camped  in 
front  of  the  chateau  on  a  place  called  the  Parterre,  and 
in  three  days  all  were  comfortably  located. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  April,  the  Emperor  had 
hardly  recovered  from  the  fatigue  of  his  journey,  when 
he  received  the  authorities  of  Bayonne,  who  came  to  con- 
gratulate him,  and  questioned  them,  as  was  his  custom, 
most  pointedly.  His  Majesty  then  set  out  to  visit  the  fort 
and  fortifications,  which  occupied  him  till  the  evening,  when 
he  returned  to  the  Government  palace,  which  he  occupied 
temporarily  while  waiting  till  the  chateau  of  Marrac  should 
be  ready  to  receive  him. 

On  his  return  to  the  palace  the  Emperor  expected  to 
find  the  Infant  Don  Carlos,  whom  his  brother  Ferdinand, 
the  Prince  of  the  Asturias,  had  sent  to  Bayonne  to  present 
his  compliments  to  the  Emperor ;  but  he  was  informed  that 
the  Infant  was  ill,  and  would  not  be  able  to  come.  The 
Emperor  immediately  gave  orders  to  send  one  of  his  phy- 
sicians to  attend  upon  him,  with  a  valet  de  chambre  and 
several  other  persons ;  for  the  prince  had  come  to  Bayonne 
without  attendants,  and  incognito,  attended  only  by  a  mili- 
tary service  composed  of  a  few  soldiers  of  the  garrison. 


AT  BATON NE.  99 

The  Emperor  a*so  ordered  that  this  service  should  be  re- 
placed by  one  more  suitable,  consisting  of  the  Guard  of 
Honor  of  Bayonne,  and  sent  two  or  three  times  each  day 
to  inquire  the  condition  of  the  Infant,  who  it  was  freely 
admitted  in  the  palace  was  very  ill. 

On  leaving  the  Government  palace  to  take  up  his  abode 
at  Marrac,  the  Emperor  gave  all  necessary  orders  that  it 
should  be  in  readiness  to  receive  the  King  and  Queen  of 
Spain,  who  were  expected  at  Bayonne  the  last  of  the  month ; 
and  expressly  recommended  that  eveiything  should  be  done 
to  render  to  the  sovereigns  of  Spain  all  the  honors  due 
their  position.  Just  as  the  Emperor  entered  the  chateau 
the  sound  of  music  was  heard,  and  the  grand  marshal  entered 
to  inform  his  Majesty  that  a  large  company  of  the  inhabi- 
tants in  the  costume  of  the  country  were  assembled  before 
the  gate  of  the  chateau.  The  Emperor  immediately  went  to 
the  window  ;  and,  at  sight  of  him,  seventeen  persons  (seven 
men  and  ten  women)  began  with  inimitable  grace  a  dance 
called  la  pamperruque,  in  which  the  women  kept  time  on 
tambourines,  and  the  men  with  castanets,  to  an  orchestra 
composed  of  flutes  and  guitars.  I  went  out  of  the  castle  to 
view  this  scene  more  closely.  The  women  wore  short  skirts 
of  blue  silk,  and  pink  stockings  likewise  embroidered  in 
silver ;  their  hair  was  tied  with  ribbons,  and  they  wore  very- 
broad  black  bracelets,  that  set  off  to  advantage  the  dazzling 
whiteness  of  their  bare  arms.  The  men  wore  tight-fitting 
white  breeches,  with  silk  stockings  and  large  epaulettes,  a 
loose  vest  of  very  fine  woolen  cloth  ornamented  with  gold, 
and  their  hair  caught  up  in  a  net  like  the  Spaniards'. 

His  Majesty  took  great  pleasure  in  witnessing  this 
dance,  which  is  peculiar  to  the  country  and  very  ancient. 


100  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

which  the  custom  of  the  country  has  consecrated  as  a  means 
of  rendering  homage  to  great  personages.  The  Emperor 
remained  at  the  window  until  the  pamperruque  was  fin- 
ished, and  then  sent  to  compliment  the  dancers  on  their 
skill,  and  to  express  his  thanks  to  the  inhabitants  assembled 
in  crowds  at  the  gate. 

His  Majesty  a  few  days  afterward  received  from  his 
Royal  Highness,  the  Prince  of  the  Asturias,  a  letter,  in 
which  he  announced  that  he  intended  setting  out  from  Irun, 
where  he  then  was,  at  an  early  day,  in  order  to  have  the 
pleasure  of  making  the  acquaintance  of  his  brother  (it  was 
thus  Prince  Ferdinand  called  the  Emperor) ;  a  pleasure 
which  he  had  long  desired,  and  which  he  would  at  last 
enjoy  if  his  good  brother  would  allow  him.  This  letter  was 
brought  to  the  Emperor  by  one  of  the  aides-de-camp  of  the 
prince,  who  had  accompanied  him  from  Madrid,  and  pre- 
ceded him  to  Bayonne  by  only  ten  days.  His  Majesty 
could  hardly  believe  what  he  read  and  heard ;  and  I,  with 
several  other  persons,  heard  him  exclaim,  "  What,  he  is 
coming  here  ?  but  you  must  be  mistaken ;  he  must  be 
deceiving  us ;  that  cannot  be  possible  !  "  And  I  can  certify 
that,  in  these  words,  the  Emperor  manifested  no  pleasure  at 
the  announcement. 

It  was  necessary,  however,  to  make  preparations  to  re- 
ceive the  prince,  since  he  was  certainly  coming;  conse- 
quently the  Prince  of  Neuchatel,  the  Duke  of  Frioul,  and  a 
chamberlain  of  honor,  were  selected  by  his  Majesty.  And 
the  guard  of  honor  received  orders  to  accompany  these  gen- 
tlemen, and  meet  the  Prince  of  Spain  just  outside  the  town 
of  Bayonne ;  the  rank  which  the  Emperor  recognized  in 
Ferdinand  not  rendering  it  proper  that  the  escort  should  go 


THE  PRINCE  OF  THE  ASTUBIAS.  101 

as  far  as  the  frontier  of  the  two  empires.  The  Prince  made 
his  entrance  into  Bayonne  at  noon,  on  the  20th  of  April. 
Lodgings  which  wTould  have  been  considered  very  inferior 
in  Paris,  but  which  were  elegant  in  Bayonne,  had  been  pre- 
pared for  him  and  his  brother,  the  Infant  Don  Carlos,  who 
was  already  installed  there.  Prince  Ferdinand  made  a 
grimace  on  entering,  but  did  not  dare  to  complain  aloud; 
and  certainly  it  would  have  been  most  improper  for  him  to 
have  done  so,  since  it  was  not  the  Emperor's  fault  that 
Bayonne  possessed  only  one  palace,  which  was  at  this  time 
reserved  for  the  king,  and,  besides,  this  house,  the  hand- 
somest in  the  town,  was  large  and  perfectly  new.  Don 
Pedro  de  Cevallos,  who  accompanied  the  prince,  thought  it 
horrible,  and  unfit  for  a  royal  personage.  It  was  the  resi- 
dence of  the  commissariat.  An  hour  after  Ferdinand's 
arrival,  the  Emperor  visited  him.  He  was  awaiting  the 
Emperor  at  the  door,  and  held  out  his  arms  on  his  approach  ; 
they  embraced,  and  ascended  to  his  apartments,  where  they 
remained  about  half  an  hour,  and  when  they  separated  the 
prince  wore  a  somewhat  anxious  air.  His  Majesty  on  his 
return  charged  the  grand  marshal  to  convey  to  the  prince 
and  his  brother,  Don  Carlos,  the  Duke  of  San-Carlos,  the 
Duke  of  Infantado,  Don  Pedro  de  Cevallos,  and  two  or 
three  other  persons  of  the  suite,  an  invitation  to  dine  with 
him ;  and  the  Emperor's  carriages  were  sent  for  these  illus- 
trious guests  at  the  appointed  hour,  and  they  were  conveyed 
to  the  chateau.  His  Majesty  descended  to  the  foot  of  the 
staircase  to  receive  the  prince ;  but  this  was  the  limit  of  his 
deference,  for  not  once  during  dinner  did  he  give  Prince 
Ferdinand,  who  was  a  king  at  Madrid,  the  title  of  your 
majesty,  nor  even  that  of  highness ;   nor  did  he  accompany 


102  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

him  on  his  departure  any  farther  than  the  first  door  of  the 
saloon ;  and  he  afterwards  informed  him,  by  a  message,  that 
he  would  have  no  other  rank  than  that  of  Prince  of  the 
Asturias  until  the  arrival  of  his  father,  King  Charles. 
Orders  were  given  at  the  same  time  to  place  on  duty 
at  the  house  of  the  princes,  the  Bayonnaise  guard  of 
honor,  with  the  Imperial  Guard  in  addition  to  a  detach- 
ment of  picked  police. 

On  the  27th  of  April  the  Empress  arrived  from  Bor- 
deaux at  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  having  made  no 
stay  at  Bayonne,  where  her  arrival  excited  little  enthusi- 
asm, as  they  were  perhaps  displeased  that  she  did  not 
stop  there.  His  Majesty  received  her  with  much  tender- 
ness, and  showed  much  solicitude  as  to  the  fatigue  she 
must  have  experienced,  since  the  roads  were  so  rough, 
and  badly  washed  by  the  rains.  In  the  evening  the  town 
and  chateau  were  illuminated. 

Three  days  after,  on  the  30th,  the  King  and  Queen  of 
Spain  arrived  at  Bayonne ;  and  it  is  impossible  to  describe 
the  homage  which  the  Emperor  paid  them.  The  Duke 
Charles  de  Plaisance 1  went  as  far  as  Irun,  and  the  Prince 
de  Neuchatel  even  to  the  banks  of  the  Bidassoa,  in  order 
to  pay  marked  respect  to  their  Catholic  Majesties  on  the 
part  of  their  powerful  friend ;  and  the  king  and  queen  ap- 
peared to  appreciate  highly  these  marks  of  consideration. 
A  detachment  of  picked  troops,  superbly  uniformed,  awaited 
them  on  the  frontier,  and  served  as  their  escort;  the  garri- 
son of  Bayonne  was  put  under  arms,  all  the  buildings  of 

1  Eldest  son  of  the  former  third  consul,  Lehrun.  Born  in  Paris,  1775 ; 
aide-de-camp  to  Desaix  at  Marengo,  aide-de-camp  to  the  Emperor  at  this 
time;  senator  1852;  died  1859.  —  Trans. 


THE  KINO  AND  QUEEN  OF  SPAIN.  103 

the  port  were  decorated,  all  the  bells  rang,  and  the  bat- 
teries of  both  the  citadel  and  the  port  saluted  with  great 
salvos.  The  Prince  of  the  Asturias  and  his  brother,  hear- 
ing of  the  arrival  of  the  king  and  queen,  had  left  Bayonne 
in  order  to  meet  their  parents,  when  they  encountered,  a 
short  distance  from  the  town,  two  or  three  grenadiers  who 
had  just  left  Vittoria,  and  related  to  them  the  following 
occurrence :  — 

When  their  Spanish  Majesties  entered  Vittoria,  they 
found  that  a  detachment  of  the  Spanish  body  guards,  who 
had  accompanied  the  Prince  of  the  Asturias  and  were 
stationed  in  this  town,  had  taken  possession  of  the  palace 
which  the  king  and  queen  were  to  occupy  as  they  passed 
through,  and  on  the  arrival  of  their  Majesties  had  put 
themselves  under  arms.  As  soon  as  the  king  perceived 
this,  he  said  to  them  in  a  severe  tone,  "  You  will  under- 
stand why  I  ask  you  to  quit  my  palace.  You  have  failed 
in  your  duty  at  Aranjuez.  I  have  no  need  of  j-our  ser- 
vices, and  I  do  not  wish  them.  Go !  "  These  words, 
pronounced  with  an  energy  far  from  habitual  to  Charles 
IV.,  met  with  no  reply.  The  detachment  of  the  guards 
retired ;  and  the  king  begged  General  Verdier  to  give  him 
a  French  guard,  much  grieved,  he  said,  that  he  had  not 
retained  his  brave  riflemen,  whose  colonel  he  still  kept 
near  him  as  captain  of  the  guards. 

This  news  could  not  give  the  Prince  of  the  Asturias 
a  high  opinion  of  the  welcome  his  father  had  in  store  for 
him ;  and  indeed  he  was  very  coolly  received,  as  I  shall 
now  relate. 

The  King  and  Queen  of  Spain,  on  alighting  at  the  gov- 
ernmental palace,  found  awaiting  them  the  grand  marshal, 


104  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  Duke  de  Frioul,  who  escorted  them  to  their  apartments, 
and  presented  to  them  General  Count  Reille,1  the  Empe- 
ror's aide-de-camp,  performing  the  duties  of  governor  of  the 
palace ;  M.  d'Audenarde,  equerry,  with  M.  Dumanoir  and 
M.  de  Baral,  chamberlains  charged  with  the  service  of 
honor  near  their  Majesties. 

The  grandees  of  Spain  whom  their  Majesties  found  at 
Bayonne  were  the  same  who  had  followed  the  Prince  of 
the  Asturias,  and  the  sight  of  them,  as  may  well  be  ima- 
gined, was  not  pleasant  to  the  king ;  and  when  the  ceremony 
of  the  kissing  of  the  hand  took  place,  every  one  perceived 
the  painful  agitation  of  the  unfortunate  sovereigns.  This 
ceremony,  which  consists  of  falling  on  your  knees  and 
kissing  the  hand  of  the  king  and  queen,  was  performed  in 
the  deepest  silence,  as  their  Majesties  spoke  to  no  one  but 
the  Count  of  Fuentes,  who  by  chance  was  at  Bayonne. 

The  king  hurried  over  this  ceremony,  which  fatigued 
him  greatly,  and  retired  with  the  queen  into  his  apart- 
ments,  where  the  Prince  of  the  Asturias  wished  to  follow 
them ;  but  his  father  stopped  him  at  the  door,  and  raising 
his  arm  as  if  to  repulse  him,  said  in  a  trembling  tone, 
"  Prince,  do  you  wish  still  to  insult  my  gray  hairs  ?  " 
These  words  had,  it  is  said,  the  effect  of  a  thunderbolt  on 
the  prince.  He  was  overcome  by  his  feelings  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  withdrew  without  uttering  a  word. 

Very  different  was  the  reception  their  Majesties  gave  to 
the  Prince  de  la  Paix2  when  he  joined  them  at  Bayonne, 
and  he  might  have  been  taken  for  the  nearest  and  dearest 

1  Afterwards  distinguished  in  the  Spanish  war,  and  commanding  the 
army  of  Portugal,  1812 ;  born  1775;  created  marshal,  1847 ;  died  1860.  —  Trans. 

2  Manuel  Godo'i,  horn  at  Badajos,  1767.  A  common  soldier,  he  became 
the  queen's  lover,  and  the  virtual  ruler  of  Spain ;  died  in  Paris,  1851.  —  Trans. 


THE  PRINCE  BE  LA   PAIX.  105 

relative  of  their  Majesties.  All  three  wept  freely  on  meet- 
ing again  ;  at  least,  this  is  what  I  was  told  by  a  person  in 
the  service  —  the  same,  in  fact,  who  gave  me  all  the  pre- 
ceding details. 

At  five  o'clock  his  Majesty  the  Emperor  came  to  visit 
the  King  and  Queen  of  Spain ;  and  during  this  interview, 
which  was  very  long,  the  two  sovereigns  informed  his 
Majesty  of  the  insults  they  had  received,  and  the  dangers 
they  had  encountered  during  the  past  month.  They  com- 
plained greatly  of  the  ingratitude  of  so  many  men  whom 
they  had  overwhelmed  with  kindness,  and  above  all  of 
the  guard  which  had  so  basely  betrayed  them.  "  Your 
Majesty,"  said  the  king,  "  does  not  know  what  it  is  to  be 
forced  to  commiserate  yourself  on  account  of  your  son. 
May  Heaven  forbid  that  such  a  misfortune  should  ever 
come  to  you!  Mine  is  the  cause  of  all  that  we  have 
suffered." 

The  Prince  de  la  Paix  had  come  to  Bayonne  accom- 
panied by  Colonel  Martes,  aide-de-camp  of  Prince  Murat, 
and  a  valet  de  chambre,  the  only  servant  who  had  remained 
faithful  to  him.  I  had  occasion  to  talk  with  this  devoted 
servant,  who  spoke  very  good  French,  having  been  reared 
near  Toulouse ;  and  he  told  me  that  he  had  not  succeeded 
in  obtaining  permission  to  remain  with  his  master  during 
his  captivity,  and  that  this  unfortunate  prince  had  suffered 
indescribable  torments ;  that  not  a  day  passed  without 
some  one  entering  his  dungeon  to  tell  him  to  prepare  for 
death,  as  he  was  to  be  executed  that  very  evening  or  the 
next  morning.  He  also  told  me  that  the  prisoners  were 
left  sometimes  for  thirty  hours  without  food;  that  he  had 
only  a  bed  of  straw,  no  linen,  no  books,  and  no  cominunica- 


106  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

tion  with  the  outside  world;  and  that  when  he  came  out 
of  his  dungeon  to  be  sent  to  Colonel  Martes,  he  presented 
a  horrible  appearance,  with  his  long  beard,  and  emaciated 
frame,  the  result  of  mental  distress  and  insufficient  food, 
He  had  worn  the  same  shirt  for  a  month,  as  he  had  nevei 
been  able  to  prevail  on  his  captors  to  give  him  others ;  and 
his  eyes  had  been  so  long  unaccustomed  to  the  light  that 
he  was  obliged  to  close  them,  and  felt  oppressed  in  the 
open  air. 

On  the  road  from  Bayonne,  there  was  handed  to  the 
prince  a  letter  from  the  king  and  queen  which  was  stained 
with  tears.  The  prince  said  to  his  valet  de  chambre  after 
reading  it,  "  These  are  the  first  consoling  words  I  have 
received  in  a  month,  for  every  one  has  abandoned  me 
except  my  excellent  masters.  The  body  guards,  who  have 
betrayed  and  sold  their  king,  will  also  betray  and  sell 
his  son;  and  as  for  myself,  I  hope  for  nothing,  except  to 
be  permitted  to  find  an  asylum  in  France  for  my  chil- 
dren and  myself."  M.  Martes  having  shown  him  news- 
papers in  which  it  was  stated  that  the  prince  possessed 
a  fortune  of  five  hundred  million,  he  exclaimed  vehemently 
that  it  was  an  atrocious  calumny,  and  he  defied  his  most 
cruel  enemies  to  prove  that. 

As  we  have  seen,  their  Majesties  had  not  a  numer- 
ous suite ;  but  they  were,  notwithstanding,  followed  by 
baggage-wagons  filled  with  furniture,  goods,  and  valuable 
articles,  and  though  their  carriages  were  old-fashioned, 
they  found  them  very  comfortable  —  especially  the  king, 
who  was  much  embarrassed  the  day  after  his  arrival  at 
Bayonne,  when,  having  been  invited  to  dine  with  the  Em- 
peror, it  was   necessary  to  enter  a  modern  carriage  with 


THE  KING  AND   QUEEN   OF  SPAIN.  107 

two  steps.  He  did  not  dare  to  put  his  foot  on  the  frail 
things,  which  he  feared  would  break  under  his  weight ; 
and  the  oscillating  movement  of  the  body  of  the  carriage 
made  him  terribly  afraid  that  it  would  upset. 

At  the  table  I  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  at  my 
leisure  the  king  and  queen.  The  king  was  of  medium 
height,  and  though  not  strictly  handsome  had  a  pleasant 
face.  His  nose  was  very  long,  his  voice  high-pitched  and 
disagreeable ;  and  he  walked  Avith  a  mincing  air  in  which 
there  was  no  majesty,  but  this,  however,  I  attributed  to  the 
gout.  He  ate  heartily  of  everything  offered  him,  except 
vegetables,  which  he  never  ate,  saying  that  grass  was  good 
only  for  cattle  ;  and  drank  only  water,  having  it  served  in 
two  carafes,  one  containing  ice,  and  poured  from  both  at 
the  same  time.  The  Emperor  gave  orders  that  special 
attention  should  be  paid  to  the  dinner,  knowing  that  the 
king  was  somewhat  of  an  epicure.  He  praised  in  high 
terms  the  French  cooking,  which  he  seemed  to  find  much 
to  his  taste  ;  for  as  each  dish  was  served  him,  he  would 
say,  "  Louise,  take  some  of  that,  it  is  good  ;"  which  greatly 
amused  the  Emperor,  whose  abstemiousness  is  well  known. 

The  queen  was  fat  and  short,  dressed  very  badly,  and 
had  no  style  or  grace  ;  her  complexion  was  very  florid, 
and  her  expression  harsh  and  severe.  She  held  her  head 
high,  spoke  very  loud,  in  tones  still  more  brusque  and  pier- 
cing than  those  of  her  husband ;  but  it  is  generally  conceded 
that  she  had  more  character  and  better  maimers  than  he. 

Before  dinner  that  day  there  was  some  conversation 
on  the  subject  of  dress ;  and  the  Empress  offered  the  ser- 
vices of  M.  Duplan,  her  hairdresser,  in  order  to  give  her 
ladies  some  lessons  in  the  French  toilet.     Her  proposition 


108  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

was  accepted;  and  the  queen  came  out  soon  after  from 
the  hands  of  M.  Duplan,  better  dressed,  no  doubt,  and  her 
hair  better  arranged,  but  not  beautified,  however,  fo^  the 
talent  of  the  hairdresser  could  not  go  as  far  as  that. 

The  Prince  of  the  Asturias,  now  King  Ferdinand  VII., 
made  an  unpleasant  impression  on  all,  with  his  heavy  step 
and  careworn  air,  and  rarely  ever  speaking. 

Their  Spanish  Majesties  as  before  brought  with  them 
the  Prince  de  la  Paix,  who  had  not  been  invited  by  the  Em- 
peror, and  whom  for  this  reason  the  usher  on  duty  detained 
outside  of  the  dining-hall.  But  as  they  were  about  to  be 
seated,  the  king  perceived  that  the  prince  was  absent. 
"And  Manuel,"  said  he  quickly  to  the  Emperor,  "and 
Manuel,  Sire!"  Whereupon  the  Emperor,  smiling,  gave 
the  signal,  and  Don  Manuel  Godo'i  was  introduced.  I  was 
told  that  he  had  been  a  veiy  handsome  man ;  but  he  showed 
no  signs  of  this,  which  was  perhaps  owing  to  the  bad  treat- 
ment he  had  undergone. 

After  the  abdication  of  the  princes,  the  king  and  queen, 
the  Queen  of  Etruria,  and  the  Infant  Don  Franciso,  left 
Bayonne  for  Fontainebleau,  which  place  the  Emperor  had 
selected  as  their  residence  while  waiting  until  the  chateau 
of  Compiegne  should  be  put  in  a  condition  to  make  them 
comfortable.  The  Prince  of  the  Asturias  left  the  same 
day,  with  his  brother  Don  Carlos  and  his  uncle  Don  Anto- 
nio, for  the  estates  of  Valencay  belonging  to  the  Prince  of 
Benevento.  They  published,  while  passing  through  Bor- 
deaux, a  proclamation  to  the  Spanish  people,  in  which 
they  confirmed  the  transmission  of  all  their  rights  to  the 
Emperor  Napoleon. 

Thus  King  Charles,  freed  from  a  tin-one  which  he  had 


THE  KING   OF  SPAIN.  109 

always  regarded  as  a  heavy  burden,  could  hereafter  give 
himself  up  unreservedly  in  retirement  to  his  favorite  pur- 
suits. In  all  the  world  he  cared  only  for  the  Prince  de  la 
Paix,  confessors,  watches,  and  music ;  and  the  throne  was 
nothing  to  him.  After  what  had  passed,  the  Prince  de 
la  Paix  could  not  return  to  Spain ;  and  the  king  would 
never  have  consented  to  be  separated  from  him,  even  if 
the  remembrance  of  the  insults  which  he  had  personally 
received  had  not  been  powerful  enough  to  disgust  him 
with  his  kingdom.  He  much  preferred  the  life  of  a  pri- 
vate individual,  and  could  not  be  happier  than  when 
allowed  without  interruption  to  indulge  his  simple  and 
tranquil  tastes.  On  his  arrival  at  the  chateau  of  Fon- 
tainebleau,  he  found  there  M.  Remusat,  the  first  chamber- 
lain ;  M.  de  Caqueray,  officer  of  the  hunt ;  M.  de  Lucay, 
prefect  of  the  palace  ;  and  a  household  already  installed. 
Mesdames  de  la  Rochefoucault,  Duchatel,  and  de  Lucay 
had  been  selected  by  the  Emperor  for  the  service  of  honor 
near  the  queen. 

The  King  of  Spain  remained  at  Fontainebleau  only 
until  the  chateau  of  Compiegne  could  be  repaired,  and  as 
he  soon  found  the  climate  of  this  part  of  France  too  cold 
for  his  health,  went,  at  the  end  of  a  few  months,  to  Mar- 
seilles with  the  Queen  of  Etruria,  the  Infant  Don  Fran- 
cisco, and  the  Prince  de  la  Paix.  In  1811  he  left  France 
for  Italy,  finding  his  health  still  bad  at  Marseilles,  and 
chose  Rome  as  his  residence. 

I  spoke  above  of  the  fondness  of  the  King  of  Spain  for 
watches.  I  have  been  told  that  while  at  Fontainebleau,  he 
had  half  a  dozen  of  his  watches  worn  by  his  valet  de  eham- 
bre,  and  wore  as  many  himself,  giving  as  a  reason   that 


110  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

pocket  watches  lose  time  by  not  being  carried.  I  have 
also  heard  that  he  kept  his  confessor  always  near  him,  in 
the  antechamber,  or  in  the  room  in  front  of  that  in  which 
he  worked,  and  that  when  he  wished  to  speak  to  him  he 
whistled,  exactly  as  one  would  whistle  for  a  dog.  The  con- 
fessor never  failed  to  respond  promptly  to  this  royal  call, 
and  followed  his  penitent  into  the  embrasure  of  a  window, 
in  which  improvised  confessional  the  king  divulged  what 
he  had  on  his  conscience,  received  absolution,  and  sent 
back  the  priest  until  he  felt  himself  obliged  to  whistle  for 
him  again. 

When  the  health  of  the  king,  enfeebled  by  age  and 
gout,  no  longer  allowed  him  to  devote  himself  to  the 
pleasures  of  the  chase,  he  began  playing  on  the  violin 
more  than  ever  before,  in  order,  he  said,  to  perfect  himself 
in  it.  This  was  beginning  rather  late.  As  is  well  known, 
he  had  for  Ins  first  violin  teacher  the  celebrated  Alexander 
Boucher,1  with  whom  he  greatly  enjoyed  playing ;  but  he 
had  a  mania  for  beginning  first  without  paying  any  atten- 
tion to  the  measure ;  and  if  M.  Boucher  made  any  observa- 
tion in  regard  to  this,  his  Majesty  would  reply  with  the 
greatest  coolness,  "  Monsieur,  it  seems  to  me  that  it  is 
not  my  place  to  wait  for  you." 

Between  the  departure  of  the  royal  family  and  the 
arrival  of  Joseph,  King  of  Naples,  the  time  was  passed  in 
reviews  and  military  fetes,  which  the  Emperor  frequently 
honored  with  his  presence.  The  7th  of  June,  King  Joseph 
arrived  at  Bayonne,  where  it  had  been  known  long  in  ad- 
vance that  his  brother  had  summoned  him  to  exchange 
his  crown  of  Naples  for  that  of  Spain. 

1  Born  in  Paris,  1770,  and  a  famous  violinist ;  died  1861.  —  Trans. 


JOSEPH,   KING   OF  SPAIN.  Ill 

The  evening  of  Joseph's  arrival,  the  Emperor  invited 
the  members  of  the  Spanish  Junta,  who  for  fifteen  days 
had  been  arriving  at  Bayonne  from  all  corners  of  the  king- 
dom, to  assemble  at  the  chateau  of  Marrac,  and  congratulate 
the  new  king.  The  deputies  accepted  this  somewhat  sud- 
den invitation  without  having  time  to  concert  together  pre- 
viously any  course  of  action ;  and  on  their  arrival  at  Marrac, 
the  Emperor  presented  to  them  their  sovereign,  whom  they 
acknowledged,  with  the  exception  of  some  opposition  on 
the  part  of  the  Duke  of  Infantado,1  in  the  name  of  the 
grandees  of  Spain.  The  deputations  from  the  Council 
of  Castile,  from  the  Inquisition,  and  from  the  army,  etc., 
submitted  most  readily.  A  few  days  after,  the  king 
formed  his  ministry,  in  which  all  were  astonished  to  find 
M.  de  Cevallos,2  who  had  accompanied  the  Prince  of  the 
Asturias  to  Bayonne,  and  had  made  such  a  parade  of  un- 
dying attachment  to  the  person  of  the  one  whom  he  called 
his  unfortunate  master ;  while  the  Duke  of  Infantado,  who 
had  opposed  to  the  utmost  any  recognition  of  the  foreign 
monarch,  was  appointed  Captain  of  the  Guard.  The  king 
then  left  for  Madrid,  after  appointing  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Berg  lieutenant-general  of  the  kingdom. 

1  Born  1733;  defeated  while  commanding  an  army  against  the  French, 
1809;  Prime  minister,  1825 ;  died  1841.  — Trans. 

2  Pedro  de  Cevallos,  horn  at  Santander,  1764 ;  minister  for  foreign  affairs 
under  Charles  IV. ;  died  1838.  — Trans. 


112  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   X. 

Death  of  M.  de  Belloy,  Archbishop  of  Paris.  —  Life  of  a  century,  and  still  too 
short.  — Anecdote  concerning  the  Archbishop  of  Genoa.  —  The  hangman's 
child. — The  Grand  Duke  of  Berg  returns  from  Spain.  —  Departure  from 
Marrac.  —  Snuff-boxes  given  away  by  the  Emperor. — The  room  of  the 
First  Bourbon.  —  Souvenir  of  Egypt.  —  The  pyramid  and  the  mamelukes. 
—  The  balladeurs.  —  The  Emperor's  visit  to  the  Grand  Duke  of  Berg.  — 
Useless  preparations. — The  oldest  soldier  in  France.  —  The  Centena- 
rian.—  The  Emperor's  deference  for  old  age.  —  The  soldier  of  Egypt.  — 
Arrival  at  Saint-Cloud.  —  The  fifteenth  of  August.  — The  Emperor  eager 
for  praise.  — The  Emperor's  ill-humor.  — Napoleon  and  the  god  Mars.— 
The  Persian  ambassador.  —  Solemn  audience.  —  Elegance  and  generosity 
of  Asker-Khan.  —  The  swords  of  Tamerlane  and  Kouli-Khan.  —  Persian 
gallantry.  —  Asker-Khan's  love  of  science  and  the  arts.  — The  long  price, 
and  the  short  price.  —  Calico  preferred  to  cashmere.  —  Eastern  amuse- 
ments.—  The  arms  of  the  sufi,  and  the  Emperor's  cipher.  —  Asker- 
Khan  in  the  Imperial  library. — The  Koran.  —  Portrait  of  the  sufi. — 
The  Grand  Order  of  the  Sun  given  to  the  Prince  de  Be'nevent.  —  Fall  of 
Asker-Khan  at  the  Empress's  concert.  — M.  de  Barbe-Marbois  a  physician 
against  his  will. 

At  this  time  it  was  learned  at  Bayonne  that  M.  de 
Belloy,  Archbishop  of  Paris,  had  just  died  of  a  cold,  con- 
tracted at  the  age  of  more  than  ninety-eight  years.  The 
day  after  this  sad  news  arrived,  the  Emperor,  who  was  sin- 
cerely grieved,  was  dilating  upon  the  great  and  good  quali- 
ties of  this  venerable  prelate,  and  said  that  having  one  day 
thoughtlessly  remarked  to  M.  de  Belloy,  then  already  more 
than  ninety-six  years  old,  that  he  would  live  a  century, 
the  good  old  archbishop  had  exclaimed,  smiling,  "  Why, 
does  your  Majesty  think  that  I  have  no  more  than  four 
years  to  live  ?  " 


M.   BE  BELLOY.  113 

I  remember  that  one  of  the  persons  who  was  present  at 
the  Emperor's  levee  related  the  following  anecdote  concern- 
ing M.  de  Belloy,  which  seemed  to  excite  the  Emperor's  re- 
spect and  admiration. 

The  wife  of  the  hangman  of  Genoa  gave  birth  to  a 
daughter,  who  could  not  be  baptized  because  no  one  would 
act  as  godfather.  In  vain  the  father  begged  and  entreated 
the  few  persons  whom  he  knew,  in  vain  he  even  offered 
money;  that  was  an  impossibility.  The  poor  child  had 
consequently  remained  unbaptized  four  or  five  months, 
though  fortunately  her  health  gave  no  cause  for  uneasiness. 
At  last  some  one  mentioned  this  singular  condition  of 
affaire  to  the  archbishop,  who  listened  to  the  story  with 
much  interest,  inquired  why  he  had  not  been  informed 
earlier,  and  having  given  orders  that  the  child  should  be 
instantly  brought  to  him,  baptized  her  in  his  palace,  and 
was  himself  her  godfather. 

At  the  beginning  of  July  the  Grand  Duke  of  Berg  re- 
turned from  Spain,  fatigued,  ill,  and  out  of  humor.  He 
remained  there  only  two  or  three  days,  and  held  each  day 
an  interview  with  his  Majesty,  who  seemed  little  better 
satisfied  with  the  grand  duke  than  the  grand  duke  was 
with  him,  and  left  afterwards  for  the  springs  of  Bareges. 

Their  Majesties,  the  Emperor  and  Empress,  left  the 
chateau  of  Marrac  the  20th  of  July,  at  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening.  This  journey  of  the  Emperor  was  one  of  those 
which  cost  the  largest  number  of  snuff-boxes  set  in  dia- 
monds, for  his  Majesty  was  not  economical  with  them. 

Their  Majesties  arrived  at  Pau  on  the  22d,  at  ten 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  alighted  at  the  chateau  of 
Gelos,  situated  about  a  quarter  of  a  league  from  the  birth- 


114  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

place  of  the  good  Henry  IV.,  on  the  bank  of  the  river.. 
The  day  was  spent  in  receptions  and  horseback  excursions, 
on  one  of  which  the  Emperor  visited  the  chateau  in  which 
the  first  king  of  the  house  of  Bourbon  was  reared,  and 
showed  how  much  this  visit  interested  him,  by  prolong- 
ing it  until  the  dinner-hour. 

On  the  border  of  the  department  of  the  Hautes-P3^renees, 
and  exactly  in  the  most  desolate  and  miserable  part,  was 
erected  an  arch  of  triumph,  which  seemed  a  miracle  fallen 
from  heaven  in  the  midst  of  those  plains  uncultivated  and 
burned  up  by  the  sun.  A  guard  of  honor  awaited  their 
Majesties,  ranged  around  this  rural  monument,  at  their  head 
an  old  marshal  of  the  camp,  M.  de  Noe,  more  than  eighty 
years  of  age.  This  worthy  old  soldier  immediately  took 
his  place  by  the  side  of  the  carriage,  and  as  cavalry  escort 
remained  on  horseback  for  a  day  and  two  nights  without 
showing  the  least  fatigue. 

As  we  continued  our  journey,  we  saw,  on  the  plateau  of 
a  small  mountain,  a  stone  pyramid  forty  or  fifty  feet  high, 
its  four  sides  covered  with  inscriptions  to  the  praise  of  their 
Majesties.  About  thirty  children  dressed  as  mamelukes 
seemed  to  guard  this  monument,  which  recalled  to  the 
Emperor  glorious  memories.  The  moment  their  Majesties 
appeared,  balladeurs,  or  dancers,  of  the  country  emerged 
from  a  neighboring  wood,  dressed  in  the  most  picturesque 
costumes,  bearing  banners  of  different  colors,  and  repro- 
ducing with  remarkable  agility  and  vigor  the  traditional 
dance  of  the  mountaineers  of  the  south. 

Near  the  town  of  Tarbes  was  a  sham  mountain  planted 
with  firs,  which  opened  to  let  the  cortege  pass  through,  sur- 
mounted by  an  imperial  eagle  suspended  in  the  air,  and 


AT  TARBES.  115 

holding  a  banner  on  which  was  inscribed —  "He  will  open 
our  Pyrenees.'''' 

On  his  arrival  at  Tarbes,  the  Emperor  immediately 
mounted  his  horse  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Berg,  who  was  ill  in  one  of  the  suburbs.  We  left  next 
day  without  visiting  Bareges  and  Bagneres,  where  the 
most  brilliant  preparations  had  been  made  to  receive  their 
Majesties. 

As  the  Emperor  passed  through  Agen,  there  was  pre- 
sented to  him  a  brave  fellow  named  Printemps,  over  a 
hundred  years  old,  who  had  served  under  Louis  XIV.,  XV., 
and  XVI.,  and  who,  although  bending  beneath  the  weight  of 
many  years  and  burdens,  finding  himself  in  the  presence  of 
the  Emperor,  gently  pushed  aside  two  of  his  grandsons  by 
whom  he  had  been  supported,  and  exclaimed  almost  angrily 
that  he  could  go  very  well  alone.  His  Majesty,  who  was 
much  touched,  met  him  half-way,  and  most  kindly  bent 
over  the  old  centenarian,  who  on  his  knees,  his  white  head 
uncovered,  and  his  eyes  full  of  tears,  said  in  trembling 
tones,  "Ah,  Sire,  I  was  afraid  I  should  die  without  seeing 
you."  The  Emperor  assisted  him  to  rise,  and  conducted 
him  to  a  chair,  in  which  he  placed  him  with  his  own 
hands,  and  seated  himself  beside  him  on  another,  which  he 
made  signs  to  hand  him.  "I  am  glad  to  see  you,  my  dear 
Printemps,  very  glad.  You  have  heard  from  me  lately?  " 
(His  Majesty  had  given  this  brave  man  a  pension,  which 
his  wife  was  to  inherit  after  his  death.)  Printemps  put 
his  hand  on  his  heart,  "  Yes,  I  have  heard  from  you." 
The  Emperor  took  pleasure  in  making  him  speak  of  his 
campaigns,  and  bade  liini  farewell  after  a  long  conversation, 
handing  him  at  the  same  time  a  gift  of  fifty  napoleons- 


116  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

There  was  also  presented  to  his  Majesty  a  soldier  born 
at  Agen,  who  had  lost  his  sight  in  consequence  of  the  cam- 
paign in  Egypt.  The  Emperor  gave  him  three  hundred 
francs,  and  promised  him  a  pension,  which  was  afterwards 
sent  him. 

The-  day  after  their  arrival  at  Saint-Cloud,  the  Emperor 
and  Empress  went  to  Paris  in  order  to  be  present  at  the 
fetes  of  the  15th  of  August,  which  it  is  useless  to  say  were 
magnificent.  As  soon  as  he  entered  the  Tuileries,  the  Em- 
peror hastened  through  the  chateau  to  examine  the  repairs 
and  improvements  which  had  been  made  during  his  absence, 
and,  as  was  his  habit,  criticised  more  than  he  praised  all 
that  he  saw.  Looking  out  of  the  hall  of  the  marshals,  he 
demanded  of  M.  de  Fleurieu,1  governor  of  the  palace,  why 
the  top  of  the  arch  of  triumph  on  the  Carrousel  was  covered 
with  a  cloth ;  and  his  Majesty  was  told  that  it  was  because 
all  the  arrangements  had  not  yet  been  made  for  placing  his 
statue  in  the  chariot  to  which  were  attached  the  Corinthian 
horses,  and  also  because  the  two  Victories  who  were  to 
guide  the  four  horses  were  not  yet  completed.  "What!" 
vehemently  exclaimed  the  Emperor ;  "  but  I  will  not  allow 
that!  I  said  nothing  about  it!  I  did  not  order  it!"  Then 
turning  to  M.  Fontaine,  he  continued,  "  Monsieur  Fontaine, 
was  my  statue  in  the  design  which  was  presented  to  you  ?  " 
—  "  No,  Sire,  it  was  that  of  the  god  Mars."  —  "  Well,  why 
have  you  put  me  in  the  place  of  the  god  of  war  ?  "  —  "  Sire, 
it  was  not  I,  but  M.  the  director-general  of  the  museum  " — 
"  The  director-general  was  wrong,"  interrupted  the  Em- 
peror impatiently.      "  I  wish  tliis  statue  removed ;   do  you 

1  Count  Charles  Pierre  Claret  do  Fleurieu,  bom  in  Lyons,  1738 ;  minister 
of  marine,  1790 ;  councilor  of  state,  1799 ;  senator,  1805 ;  died  1810.  —  Trans. 


THE  PERSIAN  AMBASSADOR.  117 

hear,  Monsieur  Fontaine  ?  I  wish  it  taken  away ;  it  is  most 
unsuitable.  What !  shall  I  erect  statues  to  myself !  Let 
the  chariot  and  the  Victories  be  finished ;  but  l»t  the  chariot 
—  let  the  chariot  remain  empty."  The  order  was  executed; 
and  the  statue  of  the  Emperor  was  taken  down  and  placed 
in  the  orangery,  and  is  perhaps  still  there.  It  was  made  of 
gilded  lead,  was  a  fine  piece  of  work,  and  a  most  excellent 
likeness. 

The  Sunday  following  the  Emperor's  arrival,  his  Majesty 
received  at  the  Tuileries  the  Persian  ambassador,  Asker- 
Khan;  INI.  Jaubert1  accompanied  him,  and  acted  as  inter- 
preter. This  savant,  learned  in  Oriental  matters,  had  by 
the  Emperor's  orders  received  his  excellency  on  the  fron- 
tiers of  France,  in  company  with  M.  Outre)r,  vice-consul  of 
France  at  Bagdad.  Later  his  excellency  had  a  second  audi- 
ence, which  took  place  in  state  at  the  palace  of  Saint-Cloud. 

The  ambassador  was  a  veiy  handsome  man,  tall,  with 
regular  features,  and  a  noble  and  attractive  countenance; 
his  manners  were  polished  and  elegant,  especially  towards 
ladies,  with  even  something  of  French  gallantry.  His  suite, 
composed  of  select  personages  all  magnificently  dressed, 
comprised,  on  his  departure  from  Erzeroum,  more  than 
three  hundred  persons;  but  the  innumerable  difficulties  en- 
countered on  the  journey  compelled  his  excellency  to  dis- 
miss a  large  part  of  his  retinue,  and,  though  thus  reduced. 
this  suite  was  notwithstanding  one  of  the  most  numerous 
ever  brought  by  an  ambassador  into  France.  The  ambassa- 
dor and  suite  were  lodged  in  the  rue  de  Frejus,  in  the 
residence  formerly  occupied  by  Mademoiselle  de  Conti. 

1  Pierre  Ame'dee  Jaubert,  Oriental  scholar,  bom  in  Provence,  177'J;  went 
to  Ejjypt  with  Napoleon.  lT'JS;  yeer,  1S11;  died  1SA7.  —Trans. 


118  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  presents  which  he  brought  to  the  Emperor  in  the 
name  of  his  sovereign  were  of  great  value,  comprising 
more  than  eighty  cashmere  shawls  of  all  kinds  ;  a  great 
quantity  of  fine  pearls  of  various  sizes,  a  few  of  them  very 
large ;  an  Eastern  bridle,  the  curb  adorned  with  pearls,  tur- 
quoise, emeralds,  etc. ;  and  finally  the  sword  of  Tamerlane, 
and  that  of  Thamas-Kouli-Khan,  the  former  covered  with 
pearls  and  precious  stones,  the  second  very  simply  mounted, 
both  having  Indian  blades  of  fabulous  value  with  ara- 
besques of  embossed  gold. 

I  took  pleasure  at  the  time  in  inquiring  some  particu- 
lars about  this  ambassador.  His  character  was  very  attrac- 
tive ;  and  he  showed  much  consideration  and  regard  for 
every  one  who  visited  him,  giving  the  ladies  attar  of  roses, 
the  men  tobacco,  perfumes,  and  pipes.  He  took  much 
pleasure  in  comparing  French  jewels  with  those  he  had 
brought  from  his  own  country,  and  even  carried  his  gal- 
lantry so  far  as  to  propose  to  the  ladies  certain  exchanges, 
always  greatly  to  their  advantage ;  and  a  refusal  of  these 
proposals  wounded  him  deeply.  When  a  pretty  woman  en- 
tered his  residence  he  smiled  at  first,  and  heard  her  speak 
in  a  kind  of  silent  ecstasy ;  he  then  devoted  his  attention  to 
seating  her,  placed  under  her  feet  cushions  and  carpets  of 
cashmere  (for  he  had  only  this  material  about  him).  Even 
his  clothing  and  bed-coverings  were  of  an  exceedingly  fine 
quality  of  cashmere.  Asker-Khan  did  not  scruple  to  wash 
his  face,  his  beard,  and  hands  in  the  presence  of  everybody, 
seating  himself  for  this  operation  in  front  of  a  slave,  who 
presented  to  him  on  his  knees  a  porcelain  ewer. 

The  ambassador  had  a  decided  taste  for  the  sciences 
and  arts,  and  was  himself  a  very  learned  man.     Messieurs 


THE  PERSIAN  AMBASSADOR.  119 

Dubois  and  Loyseau  conducted  near  his  residence  an  in- 
stitution which  he  often  visited,  especially  preferring  to 
be  present  at  the  classes  in  experimental  physics ;  and  the 
questions  which  he  propounded  by  means  of  Ins  interpreter 
evinced  on  his  part  a  very  extensive  knowledge  of  the  phe- 
nomena of  electricity.  Those  who  traded  in  curiosities 
and  objects  of  art  liked  him  exceedingly,  since  he  bought 
their  wares  without  much  bargaining.  However,  on  one 
occasion  he  wished  to  purchase  a  telescope,  and  sent  for  a 
famous  optician,  who  seized  the  opportunity  to  charge  him 
an  enormous  price.  But  Asker-Khan  having  examined 
the  instrument,  with  which  he  was  much  pleased,  said  to 
the  optician,  "  You  have  given  me  your  long  price,  now 
give  me  your  short  one." 

He  admired  above  all  the  printed  calicoes  of  the  manu- 
factures of  Jouy,  the  texture,  designs,  and  colors  of  which 
he  thought  even  superior  to  cashmere ;  and  bought  several 
robes  to  send  to  Persia  as  models. 

On  the  day  of  the  Emperor's  fete,  his  Excellency  gave 
in  the  garden  of  liis  residence  an  entertainment  in  the  East- 
ern style,  at  which  the  Persian  musicians  attached  to  the 
embassy  executed  warlike  pieces,  astonishing  both  for  vigor 
and  originality.  There  were  also  artificial  fireworks,  con- 
spicuous among  which  were  the  arms  of  the  Sufi,  on 
which  were  represented  most  ingeniously  the  cipher  of 
Napoleon. 

His  Excellency  visited  the  Imperial  library,  M.  Jaubert 
serving  as  interpreter;  and  the  ambassador  was  overcome 
with  admiration  on  seeing  the  order  in  which  this  immense 
collection  of  books  was  kept.  He  remained  half  an  hour 
in  the  hall    of   the   manuscripts,    which    he    thought  very 


120  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

handsome,  and  recognized  several  as  being  copied  by 
writers  of  much  renown  in  Persia.  A  copy  of  the  Koran 
struck  him  most  of  all ;  and  he  said,  while  admiring  it, 
that  there  was  not  a  man  in  Persia  who  would  not  sell  his 
children  to  acquire  such  a  treasure. 

On  leaving,  the  library,  Asker-Khan  presented  his  com- 
pliments to  the  librarians,  and  promised  to  enrich  the  col- 
lection by  several  precious  manuscripts  which  he  had 
brought  from  his  own  country. 

A  few  days  after  his  presentation,  the  ambassador  went 
to  visit  the  Museum,  and  was  much  impressed  by  a  portrait 
of  his  master,  the  King  of  Persia ;  and  could  not  suffi- 
ciently express  his  joy  and  gratitude  when  several  copies  of 
this  picture  were  presented  to  him.  The  historical  pic- 
tures, especially  the  battle-scenes,  then  engrossed  his  atten- 
tion completely ;  and  he  remained  at  least  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  in  front  of  the  one  representing  the  surrender  of  the 
city  of  Vienna. 

Having  arrived  at  the  end  of  the  gallery  of  Apollo, 
Asker-Khan  seated  himself  to  rest,  asked  for  a  pipe,  and 
indulged  in  a  smoke ;  and  when  he  had  finished,  rose, 
and  seeing  around  him  many  ladies  whom  curiosity  had 
attracted,  paid  them,  through  M.  Jaubert,  exceedingly 
flattering  compliments.  Then  leaving  the  Museum,  his 
Excellency  went  to  promenade  in  the  garden  of  the  Tui- 
leries,  where  he  was  soon  followed  by  an  immense  crowd. 
On  that  day  his  Excellency  bestowed  on  Prince  de  Bene- 
vento,  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign,  the  Grand  Order  of 
the  Sun,  a  magnificent  decoration  consisting  of  a  diamond 
sun  attached  to  a  cordon  of  red  cloth  covered  with  pearls. 

Asker-Khan   made  a  greater   impression   at   Paris  thai) 


THE  PERSIAN  AMBASSADOR.  121 

the  Turkish  ambassador.  He  was  generous  and  more  gal- 
lant, paid  his  court  with  more  address,  and  conformed 
more  readily  to  French  customs  and  manners.  The  Turk 
was  irascible,  austere,  and  irritable,  while  the  Persian  was 
fond  of  and  well  understood  a  joke.  One  day,  however,  he 
became  red  with  anger,  and  it  must  be  admitted  not  with- 
out good  reason. 

At  a  concert  given  in  the  apartments  of  the  Empress 
Josephine,  Asker-Khan,  whom  the  music  evidently  did  not 
entertain  very  highly,  at  first  applauded  by  ecstatic  ges- 
tures and  rolling  his  eyes  in  admiration,  until  at  last  nature 
overcame  politeness,  and  the  ambassador  fell  sound  asleep. 
His  Excellency's  position  was  not  the  best  for  sleeping, 
however,  as  he  was  standing  with  his  back  against  the 
wall,  with  his  feet  braced  against  a  sofa  on  which  a  lady 
was  seated.  It  occurred  to  some  of  the  officers  of  the 
palace  that  it  would  be  a  good  joke  to  take  away  suddenly 
this  point  of  support,  which  they  accomplished  with  all 
ease  by  simply  beginning  a  conversation  with  the  lady  on 
the  sofa,  who  rising  suddenly,  the  scat  slipped  over  the 
floor;  his  Excellency's  feet  followed  this  movement,  and 
the  ambassador,  suddenly  deprived  of  the  weight  which 
had  balanced  him,  extended  his  length  on  the  floor.  On 
this  rude  awakening,  he  tried  to  stop  himself  in  his  fall  by 
clutching  at  his  neighbors,  the  furniture,  and  the  curtains, 
uttering  at  the  same  time  frightful  screams.  The  officers 
who  had  played  tliis  cruel  joke  upon  him  begged  him,  with 
the  most  ridiculously  serious  air,  to  place  himself  on  a  sta- 
tionary chair  in  order  to  avoid  the  recurrence  of  such  an 
accident;  while  the  lad}'  who  had  been  made  the  accom- 
plice in  this  practical  joke,  with  much  difficulty  stilled  her 


122  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

laughter,  and  his  Excellency  was  consumed  with  an  anger 
which  he  could  express  only  in  looks  and  gestures. 

Another  adventure  of  Asker-Khan's  was  long  a  subject 
of  conversation,  and  furnished  much  amusement.  Having 
felt  unwell  for  several  days,  he  thought  that  French  medi- 
cine might  cure  him  more  quickly  than  Persian ;  so  he  sent 
for  M.  Bourdois,1  a  most  skillful  physician  whose  name  he 
well  knew,  having  taken  care  to  acquaint  himself  with  all 
our  celebrities  of  every  kind.  The  ambassador's  orders 
were  promptly  executed ;  but  by  a  singular  mistake  it  was 
not  Dr.  Bourdois  who  was  requested  to  visit  Asker-Khan, 
but  the  president  of  the  Court  of  Accounts,  M.  Marbois, 
who  was  much  astonished  at  the  honor  the  Persian  ambas- 
sador did  him,  not  being  able  to  comprehend  what  con- 
nection there  could  be  between  them.  Nevertheless,  he 
repaired  promptly  to  Asker-Khan,  who  could  scarcely  be- 
lieve that  the  severe  costume  of  the  president  of  the  Court 
of  Accounts  was  that  of  a  physician.  No  sooner  had  M. 
Marbois  entered  than  the  ambassador  held  out  Iris  hand 
and  stuck  out  his  tongue,  regarding  him  very  attentively. 
M.  Marbois  was  a  little  surprised  at  this  welcome ;  but 
thinking  it  was  doubtless  the  Oriental  manner  of  saluting 
magistrates,  he  bowed  profoundly,  and  timidly  pressed  the 
hand  presented  to  him,  and  he  was  in  this  respectful  posi- 
tion when  four  of  the  servants  of  the  ambassador  brought  a 
a  vessel  with  unequivocal  signs.  M.  Marbois  2  recognized 
the  use  of  it  with  a  surprise  and  indignation  that  could 

i  Physician  to  Louis  XVIII.  and  Charles  X. ;  bom  1754 ;  died  1830.  — 
Trans. 

2  Marquis  Francis  de  Barbe'-Marbois,  born  at  Metz,  1745;  in  1780  consul; 
general  to  U.  S.  A.;  deported  to  Guiana  by  the  Directory,  1797;  minister  of 
finance,  1801 ;  president  of  chamber  of  accounts,  1808 ;  died  1837.  —Trans. 


THE  PERSIAN  AMBASSADOR.  22? 

not  be  expressed,  and  drew  back  angrily,  inquiring  what 
all  this  meant.  Hearing  himself  called  doctor,  "What!" 
cried  he,  "M.  le  Docteur!"  —  "Why,  yes;  le  Docteur 
Bourdois!"  M.  Marbois  was  enlightened.  The  similarity 
between  the  sound  of  his  name  and  that  of  the  doctor  had 
exposed  him  to  this  disagreeable  visit. 


124  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

Removal  of  the  colossal  statue  to  the  Place  Vendome.  — The  brewer's  horses. 
—  Napoleon's  last  game  of  prisoner's  base.  —  Departure  for  Erfurt.  — The 
Emperor's  lodgings.  — The  garrison  of  Erfurt.  —  Actors  and  actresses  of 
the  Theatre  Francaise  at  Erfurt.  —  The  Emperor's  dislike  to  Madame 
Talma.  —  Mademoiselle  Bourgoin  and  the  Emperor  Alexander. — Pater- 
nal advice  of  the  Emperor  to  the  Czar.  —  Disappointment.  —  Entrance  of 
the  Emparor  into  Erfurt.  —  Arrival  of  the  Czar.  —  Attentions  of  the 
Czar  to  the  Duke  of  Montebello. — Meeting  of  the  Emperor  and  the 
Czar.  —  Entrance  of  the  two  Emperors  into  Erfurt.  —  Reciprocal  defer- 
ence.—  The  Czar  dines  every  day  with  the  Emperor.  — Intimacy  of  the 
Emperor  and  the  Czar.  — Dressing-case  and  bed  given  to  Alexander  by 
Napoleon. — The  Emperor  of  Russia's  present  to  Constant.  —  The  Czar 
making  his  toilet  at  the  Emperor's.  —  Exchange  of  presents. — The  three 
pelisses  of  sable  fur.  —  History  of  one  of  these  three  pelisses.  —  The  Prin- 
cess Pauline  and  hexprotegg.  — The  Emperor's  anger.  —  Exile. 

The  day  preceding  the  Emperor's  fete,  or  the  day 
following,  the  colossal  bronze  statue  which  was  to  be  placed 
on  the  monument  in  the  Place  Vendome  was  removed  from 
the  studio  of  M.  Launay.  The  brewers  of  the  Faubourg 
Saint- Antoine  offered  their  handsomest  horses  to  draw  the 
chariot  on  which  the  statue  was  carried,  and  twelve  were, 
selected,  one  from  each  brewer;  and  as  their  masters  re- 
quested the  privilege  of  riding  them,  nothing  could  be 
more  singular  than  tl  is  cortege,  which  arrived  on  the 
Place  Vendome  at  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  followed 
by  an  immense  crowd,  amid  cries  of  "  Vive  V Empereur." 

A  few  days  before  his  Majesty's  departure  for  Erfurt, 
the  Emperor  with  the  Empress  and  their  households  played 
prisoner's  base  for  the  last  time.    It  was  in  the  evening;  and 


DEPARTURE  FOR   ERFURT.  125 

footmen  bore  lighted  torches,  and  followed  the  players  when 
they  went  beyond  the  reach  of  the  light.  The  Emperor 
fell  once  while  trying  to  catch  the  Empress,  and  was  taken 
prisoner ;  but  he  soon  broke  bounds  and  began  to  run  again, 
and  when  he  was  free,  carried  off  Josephine  in  spite  of  the 
protests  of  the  players  ;  and  thus  ended  the  last  game  of 
prisoner's  base  that  I  ever  saw  the  Emperor  play. 

It  had  been  decided  that  the  Emperor  Alexander  and 
the  Emperor  Napoleon  should  meet  at  Erfurt  on  the  27th 
of  September;  and  most  of  the  sovereigns  forming  the 
Confederation  of  the  Rhine  had  been  invited  to  be  pres- 
ent at  this  interview,  which  it  was  intended  should  be 
both  magnificent  and  imposing.  Consequently  the  Duke  of 
Frioul,  grand  marshal  of  the  palace,  sent  M.  de  Canouville, 
marshal  of  lodgings  of  the  palace,  M.  de  Beausset,  prefect 
of  the  palace,  and  two  quartermasters  to  prepare  at  Erfurt 
lodgings  for  all  these  illustrious  visitors,  and  to  organize 
the  grand  marshal's  service. 

The  government  palace  was  chosen  for  the  Emperor 
Napoleon's  lodgings,  as  on  account  of  its  size  it  perfectly 
suited  the  Emperor's  intention  of  holding  his  court  there ; 
for  the  Emperor  Alexander,  the  residence  of  M.  Triebel 
was  prepared,  the  handsomest  in  the  town ;  and  for 
S.  A.  I.,  the  Grand  Duke  Constantine,  that  of  Senator 
Remann.  Other  residences  were  reserved  for  the  Princes 
of  the  Confederation  and  the  persons  of  their  suite ;  and 
a  detachment  of  all  branches  of  the  service  of  the  Im- 
perial household  was  established  in  each  of  these  different 
lodgings. 

There  had  been  sent  from  the  storehouse  of  the  crown 
a  large    quantity  of   magnificent   furniture,  — carpets    and 


126  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

tapestry,  both  Gobelin  and  la  Savonnerie ;  bronzes,  lusters, 
candelabras,  girondoles,  Sevres  china  ;  in  fine,  everything 
which  could  contribute  to  the  luxurious  furnishing  of  the 
two  Imperial  palaces,  and  those  which  were  to  be  occupied 
by  the  other  sovereigns  ;  and  a  crowd  of  workmen  came 
from  Paris.  General  Oudinot1  was  appointed  Governor  of 
Erfurt,  and  had  under  his  orders  the  First  regiment 
of  hussars,  the  Sixth  of  cuirassiers,  and  the  Seventeenth 
of  light  infantry,  which  the  major-general  had  appointed 
to  compose  the  garrison.  Twenty  select  police,  with  a  bat- 
talion chosen  from  the  finest  grenadiers  of  the  guard, 
were  put  on  duty  at  the  Imperial  palaces. 

The  Emperor,  who  sought  by  every  means  to  render 
this  interview  at  Erfurt  as  agreeable  as  possible  to  the  sov- 
ereigns for  whom  he  had  conceived  an  affection  at  Tilsit, 
wished  to  have  the  masterpieces  of  the  French  stage  played 
in  their  honor.  This  was  the  amusement  most  worthy  of 
them  that  he  could  procure,  so  he  gave  orders  that  the 
theater  should  be  embellished  and  repaired.  M.  Dazincourt 
was  appointed  director  of  the  theater,  and  set  out  from 
Paris  with  Messieurs  Talma,  Lafon,  Saint-Prix,  Damas,  Des- 
pres,  Varennes,  Lacave;  Mesdames  Duchesnoir,  Raucourt, 
Talma,  Bourgoin,  Rose  Dupuis,  Grosand,  and  Patrat;  and 
everything  was  in  order  before  the  arrival  of  the  sovereigns. 

Napoleon  disliked  Madame  Talma  exceedingly,  although 
she  displayed  most  remarkable  talent,  and  this  aversion 
was  well  known,  although  I  could  never  discover  the  cause  ; 
and  no  one  was  willing  to  be  first  to  place  her  name  on  the 
list  of  those  selected  to  go  to  Erfurt,  but  M.  Talma  made 

1  In  1809,  at  the  battle  of  Wagram,  created  Marshal  and  Duke  of  Eaggio. 
Born  1767  ;  died  1847.— Trans. 


THE   THEATER   AT  ERFURT.  127 

so  iuany  entreaties  that  at  last  consent  was  given.  And 
then  occurred  what  everybody  except  M.  Talma  and  his 
wife  had  foreseen,  that  the  Emperor,  having  seen  her  play 
once,  was  much  provoked  that  she  had  been  allowed  to 
come,  and  had  her  name  struck  from  the  list. 

Mademoiselle  Bourgoin,  who  was  at  that  time  young 
and  extremely  pretty,  had  at  first  more  success ;  but  it  was 
necessary,  in  order  to  accomplish  this,  that  she  should  con- 
duct herself  differently  from  Madame  Talma.  As  soon  as 
she  appeared  at  the  theater  of  Erfurt  she  excited  the  admi- 
ration, and  became  the  object  of  the  attentions,  of  all  the 
illustrious  spectators ;  and  this  marked  preference  gave  rise 
to  jealousies,  which  delighted  her  greatly,  and  which  she 
increased  to  the  utmost  of  her  ability  by  every  means  in 
her  power.  When  she  was  not  playing,  she  took  her  seat 
in  the  theater  magnificently  dressed,  whereupon  all  looks 
were  bent  on  her,  and  distracted  from  the  stage,  to  the 
very  great  displeasure  of  the  actors,  until  the  Emperor  at 
last  perceived  these  frequent  distractions,  and  put  an  end 
to  them  by  forbidding  Mademoiselle  Bourgoin  to  appear 
in  the  theater  except  on  the  stage. 

This  measure,  which  was  very  wisely  taken  by  his  Maj- 
jesty,  put  lnm  in  the  bad  graces  of  Mademoiselle  Bourgoin ; 
and  another  incident  added  still  more  to  the  displeasure 
of  the  actress.  The  two  sovereigns  attended  the  theater 
together  almost  every  evening,  and  the  Emperor  Alexander 
thought  Mademoiselle  Bourgoin  charming.  She  was  aware 
of  this,  and  tried  by  every  means  to  increase  the  monarch's 
devotion.  One  day  at  last  the  amorous  Czar  confided  to 
the  Emperor  his  feelings  for  Mademoiselle  Bourgoin.  "  I 
do  not  advise  you  to  make  any  advances,"  said  the  Emperor 


128  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Napoleon.  "  You  think  that  she  would  refuse  me  ?  "  —  "  Oh, 
no  ;  but  to-morrow  is  the  day  for  the  post,  and  in  five  days 
all  Paris  would  know  all  about  your  Majesty  from  head  to 
foot."  These  words  singularly  cooled  the  ardor  of  the  auto- 
crat, who  thanked  the  Emperor  for  his  advice,  and  said  to 
him,  "  But  from  the  manner  in  which  your  Majesty  speaks, 
I  should  be  tempted  to  believe  that  you  bear  this  charming 
actress  some  ill-will."  —  "No,  in  truth,"  replied  the  Em- 
peror, "  I  do  not  know  anything  about  her."  This  con- 
versation took  place  in  his  bedroom  during  the  toilet. 
Alexander  left  his  Majesty  perfectly  convinced,  and  Made- 
moiselle Bourgoin  ceased  her  ogling  and  her  assurance, 

His  Majesty  made  his  entrance  into  Erfurt  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  27th  of  September,  1808.  The  King  of  Saxony, 
who  had  arrived  first,  followed  by  the  Count  de  Marcolini, 
the  Count  de  Haag,  and  the  Count  de  Boze,  awaited  the 
Emperor  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs  in  the  governor's  palace  ; 
after  them  came  the  members  of  the  Regency  and  the 
municipality  of  Erfurt,  who  congratulated  him  in  the  usual 
form.  After  a  short  rest,  the  Emperor  mounted  his  horse, 
and  left  Erfurt  by  the  gate  of  Weimar,  making,  in  pass- 
ing, a  visit  to  the  King  of  Saxony,  and  found  outside  the 
city  the  whole  garrison  arranged  in  line  of  battle,  —  the 
grenadiers  of  the  guard  commanded  by  M.  d'Arquies  ; 
the  First  regiment  of  hussars  by  M.  de  Juniac ;  the  Sev- 
enteenth infantry  by  M.  de  Cabannes-Puymisson ;  and  the 
Sixth  cuirassiers,  the  finest  body  of  men  imaginable,  by 
Colonel  d'Haugeranville.  The  Emperor  reviewed  these 
troops,  ordered  a  change  in  some  dispositions,  and  then 
continued  on  his  way  to  meet  the  Emperor  Alexander. 

The  latter  had  set  out  from  Saint  Petersburg  on  the 


MEETING   OF  THE  EMPERORS.  129 

17th  of  September;  and  the  King  and  Queen  of  Prussia 
awaited  him  at  Koenigsberg,  where  he  arrived  on  the  18th. 
The  Duke  of  Montebello  had  the  honor  of  receiving  him 
at  Bromberg  amid  a  salute  of  twenty-one  cannon.  Alight- 
ing from  his  carriage,  the  Emperor  Alexander  mounted  his 
horse,  accompanied  by  the  Marshals  of  the  Empire,  Soult, 
Duke  of  Dalmatia,  and  Lannes,  Duke  of  Montebello,  and 
set  off  at  a  gallop  to  meet  the  Nansouty  division,  which 
awaited  him  arranged  in  line  of  battle.  He  was  welcomed 
by  a  new  salute,  and  by  oft  repeated  cries  of  "Long  live 
the  Emperor  Alexander."  The  monarch,  while  reviewing 
the  different  corps  which  formed  this  fine  division,  said 
to  the  officers,  "  I  think  it  a  great  honor,  messieurs,  to  be 
amongst  such  brave  men  and  splendid  soldiers." 

By  orders  of  Marshal  Soult,  who  simply  executed  those 
given  by  Napoleon,  relays  of  the  post  had  been  arranged 
on  all  the  roads  which  the  Monarch  of  the  North  would 
pass  over,  and  they  were  forbidden  to  receive  any  com- 
pensation. At  each  relay  were  escorts  of  dragoons  or  light 
cavalry,  who  rendered  military  honors  to  the  Czar  as  he 
passed. 

After  having  dined  with  the  generals  of  the  Nansouty 
division,  the  Emperor  of  Russia  re-entered  his  carriage, 
a  barouche  with  two  seats,  and  seated  the  Duke  of  Monte- 
bello beside  him,  who  afterwards  told  me  with  how  many 
marks  of  esteem  and  kind  feeling  the  Emperor  over- 
whelmed him  during  the  journey,  even  arranging  the  mar- 
shal's cloak  around  his  shoulders  while  he  was  asleep. 

His  Imperial  Russian  Majesty  arrived  at  Weimar  the 
evening  of  the  26th,  and  next  day  continued  Ins  journey 
to  Erfurt,  escorted   by  Marshal   Soult,  his   staff,  and  the 


130  BECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

superior  officers  of  the  Nansouty  division,  who  had  not  left 
him  since  he  had  started  from  Bromberg,  and  met  Napo- 
leon a  league  and  a  half  from  Erfurt,  to  which  place  the 
latter  had  come  on  horseback  for  this  purpose. 

The  moment  the  Czar  perceived  the  Emperor,  he  left 
his  carriage,  and  advanced  towards  his  Majesty,  who  had 
also  alighted  from  his  horse.  They  embraced  each  other 
with  the  affection  of  two  college  friends  who  meet  again 
after  a  long  absence ;  then  both  mounted  their  horses,  as 
did  also  the  Grand  Duke  Constantine,  and  passing  at  a 
gallop  in  front  of  the  regiments,  all  of  which  presented 
arms  at  their  approach,  entered  the  town,  while  the  troops, 
with  an  immense  crowd  collected  from  twenty  leagues 
around,  made  the  air  resound  with  their  acclamations. 
The  Emperor  of  Russia  wore  on  entering  Erfurt  the 
grand  decoration  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  and  the  Em- 
peror of  the  French  that  of  Saint  Andrew  of  Russia ;  and 
the  two  sovereigns  during  their  stay  continued  to  show 
each  other  these  marks  of  mutual  deference,  and  it  was 
also  remarked  that  in  his  palace  the  Emperor  always  gave 
the  right  to  Alexander.  On  the  evening  of  his  arrival,  by 
his  Majesty's  invitation,  Alexander  gave  the  countersign  to 
the  grand  marshal,  and  it  was  afterwards  given  alternately 
by  the  two  sovereigns. 

They  went  first  to  the  palace  of  Russia,  where  they 
remained  an  hour ;  and  later,  when  Alexander  came  to 
return  the  visit  of  the  Emperor,  he  received  him  at  the 
foot  of  the  staircase,  and  accompanied  him  when  he  left 
as  far  as  the  entrance  of  the  grand  hall.  At  six  o'clock 
the  two  sovereigns  dined  at  his  Majesty's  residence,  and 
it  was  the  same  each  day.     At  nine  o'clock  the  Emperor 


AT  EEFURT. 


131 


escorted  the  Emperor  of  Russia  to  his  palace ;  and  they 
then  held  a  private  conversation,  which  continued  more 
than  an  hour,  and  in  the  evening  the  whole  city  was 
illuminated.  The  day  after  his  arrival  the  Emperor  re- 
ceived at  his  levee  the  officers  of  the  Czar's  household, 
and  granted  them  the  grand  entry  during  the  rest  of  their 
stay.1 

1  Note  by  Constant.  —  This  is  the  list  of  the  persons  who  comprised 
the  suite  of  the  two  Emperors. 


The  grand  marshal,  Duke  of  Frioul 
(Duroc). 

The  Prince  of  Neuchatel  (Berthier). 

General  Caulaincourt,  Duke  of  Vicenza, 
grand  equerry,  ambassador  of  France 
to  St.  Petersburg. 

The  Prince  of  Benevento,  grand  cham- 
berlain (Talleyrand). 

The  Duke  of  Bassano  (Maret). 

The  Duke  of  Cadore,  minister  of  foreign 
relations. 

General  Nansouty,  first  equerry. 

M.  de  R^musat,  first  chamberlain. 

General  Lauriston,  the  Emperor's  aide- 
de-camp. 


General  Savary,  Duke  of  Rovigo,  the 
Emperor's  aide-de-camp. 

M.  the  Count  Daru, 

M.  Cavaletti,  equerry. 

M.  Eugene  de  Montesquieu,  chamber- 
lain. 

M.  de  Canouville,  marshal  of  the  lodg- 
ings for  the  palace. 

M.  de  MeneVal,  his  Majesty's  private 
secretary. 

M.  Fain,  another  secretary. 

M.  de  Beausset,  prefect  of  the  palace. 

M.  Yvan,  his  Majesty's  surgeon. 

Eight  pages. 


Persons  composing  the  suite  of  his  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  Russia. 


Count  Tolstoi,  grand  marshal  of  the 
palace. 

The  Prince  of  Galitzin,  his  Majesty's 
secretary. 

Count  Romanzoff,  minister  of  foreign 
affairs. 

General  Count  Tolstoi',  Russian  ambas- 
sador in  France,  come  from  Paris. 

Count  Speranki. 

Prince  Wolkonski. 

Count  Oggeroski. 

Prince  Trubetskoi. 

Prince  Gargarin. 

Count  Oraklscheff. 

Count  Schouvaloff. 

General  Kitroff,  aide-de-camp  to  the 
Grand  Duke  Constantino. 

M.  Apraxin,  aide-de-camp  to  the  minis- 
ter of  war. 


M.  Balabin,  colonel  of  the  horse-guards. 

M.  Alkoukieff. 

Prince  Golgorouki,  officer  of  the  guards. 

Count  Ozanski,  chamberlain  attached 
to  foreign  relations. 

M.  Gervais,        j  Councilors     of    state, 

M.  Creidmann,  >     attache's  of  the  for- 

M.  Sculpoff,  >  eign  relations  dep't. 
Secretaries  of  the 
embassy,  arrived 
from  Paris. 

M.  de  Labanski,  Russian  consul  in 
France,  idem. 

General  Kanikoff,  Russian  minister  to 
Saxony,  arrived  from  Dresden. 

M.  Schoodes,  secretary  of  the  legation, 
idem. 

M.  Bethmann,  Russian  consul  to  Frank- 
fort, arrived  from  Frankfort. 


Count  Nesselrode, 
M.  Boubagin, 


132  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  two  sovereigns  gave  to  each  other  proofs  of  the 
most  sincere  friendship  and  most  confidential  intimacy. 
The  Emperor  Alexander  almost  every  morning  entered 
his  Majesty's  bedroom,  and  conversed  freely  with  him. 
One  day  he  was  examining  the  Emperor's  dressing-case 
in  silver  gilt,  which  cost  six  thousand  francs,  and  was 
most  conveniently  arranged  and  beautifully  carved  by  the 
goldsmith  Biemiais,  and  admired  it  exceedingly.  As  soon 
as  he  had  gone,  the  Emperor  ordered  me  to  have  a  dress- 
ing-case sent  to  the  Czar's  palace  exactly  similar  to  that 
which  had  just  been  received  from  Paris. 

Another  time  the  Emperor  Alexander  remarked  on  the 
elegance  and  durability  of  his  Majesty's  iron  bedstead ;  and 
the  very  next  day  by  his  Majesty's  orders,  conveyed  by  me,  an 
exactly  similar  bed  was  set  up  in  the  room  of  the  Emperor  of 
Russia,  who  was  delighted  with  these  polite  attentions,  and 
two  days  after,  as  an  evidence  of  his  satisfaction,  ordered 
M.  de  Remusat  to  hand  me  two  handsome  diamond  rings. 

The  Czar  one  day  made  his  toilet  in  the  Emperor's  room, 
and  I  assisted.  I  took  from  the  Emperor's  linen  a  white 
cravat  and  cambric  handkerchief,  which  I  handed  him,  and 
for  which  he  thanked  me  most  graciously ;  he  was  an  exceed- 
ingly gentle,  good,  amiable  prince,  and  extremely  polite. 

There  was  an  exchange  of  presents  between  these  illus- 
trious sovereigns.  Alexander  made  the  Emperor  a  present 
of  three  superb  pelisses  of  martin-sable,  one  of  which  the 
Emperor  gave  to  his  sister  Pauline,  another  to  the  Princess 
de  Ponte-Corvo ;  and  the  third  he  had  lined  with  green  vel- 
vet and  ornamented  with  gold  lace,  and  it  was  this  cloak 
which  he  constantly  wore  in  Russia.  The  history  of  the 
one  which  I  carried  from  him  to  the  Princess  Pauline  is 


STORY  OF  THE  FUR  PELISSE.  133 

singular  enough  to  be  related  here,  although  it  may  have 
been  already  told. 

The  Princess  Pauline  showed  much  pleasure  in  receiving 
the  Emperor's  present,  and  enjoyed  displaying  her  cloak 
for  the  admiration  of  the  household.  One  day,  when  she 
was  in  the  midst  of  a  circle  of  ladies,  to  whom  she  was 
dilating  on  the  quality  and  excellence  of  this  fur,  M.  de 
Canouville  arrived,  and  the  princess  asked  his  opinion 
of  the  present  she  had  received  from  the  Emperor.  The 
handsome  colonel  not  appearing  as  much  struck  with  ad- 
miration as  she  expected,  she  was  somewhat  piqued,  and 
exclaimed,  "  What,  monsieur,  you  do  not  think  it  ex- 
quisite ?  "  —  "  No,  madame." —  "  In  order  to  punish  you  I 
wish  you  to  keep  this  cloak ;  I  give  it  to  you,  and  require 
you  to  wear  it;  I  wish  it,  you  understand."  It  is  proba- 
ble that  there  had  been  some  disagreement  between  her 
Imperial  highness  and  her  protege,  and  the  princess  had 
seized  the  first  means  of  establishing  peace ;  but  however 
that  may  be,  M.  de  Canouville  needed  little  entreaty,  and 
the  rich  fur  was  carried  to  his  house.  A  few  days  after, 
while  the  Emperor  was  holding  a  review  on  the  Place  du 
Carrousel,  M.  de  Canouville  appeared  on  an  unruly  horse, 
which  he  had  great  difficulty  in  controlling.  This  caused 
some  confusion,  and  attracted  his  Majesty's  attention,  who, 
glancing  at  M.  de  Canouville,  saw  the  cloak  which  he 
had  given  his  sister  metamorphosed  into  a  hussar's  cape. 
The  Emperor  had  great  difficulty  in  controlling  his  anger. 
"M.  de  Canouville,"  he  cried,  in  a  voice  of  thimder,  "your 
horse  is  young,  and  his  blood  is  too  warm ;  you  will  go  and 
cool  it  in  Russia."  Three  days  after  M.  de  Canouville 
had  left  Paris. 


134  RECOLLECTIONS    OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

The  Czar's  consideration  for  French  actors.  —  Fine  parties.  — Intimate  friend- 
ship of  the  King  of  Westphalia  and  Grand  Duke  Constantine.  —  School- 
hoy  farces.  —  Singular  order  of  Prince  Constantine.  —  Souvenirs  at  the 
theater  of  Erfurt. — Deafness  of  the  Czar,  attention  of  the  Emperor. — 
Cinna,  (Edipus.  —  An  allusion  acted  on  hy  the  Czar.  —  Nocturnal  alarm.  — 
Constant's  terror.  —  Napoleon's  nightmare.  —  A  bear  eating  the  Emperor's 
heart.  —  Singular  coincidence.  — Hunting-party.  —  The  smiles  of  the  two 
Emperors.  —  Massacre  of  game.  —  Dibut  of  the  Czar  at  the  chase.  —  Ball 
opened  hy  the  Czar.  — Astonishment  of  the  Muscovite  lords.  —  Breakfast 
on  Mount  Napoleon.  —  Visit  to  the  battle-field  of  Jena. — The  inhabit- 
ants of  Jena  and  landowners  indemnil^ed  by  the  Emperor.  —  Gift  of 
a  hundred  thousand  crowns  made  by  the  Emperor  to  the  victims  of  the 
batble  of  Je'na.  —  A  lesson  in  strategy  given  by  Napoleon  to  his  allies. — 
Representation  of  Marshal  Berthier. — The  Emperor's  reply.  —  Conver- 
sation between  the  Emperor  and  the  allied  sovereigns.  —  The  Emperor's 
learning.  —  Decorations  and  presents  distributed  by  the  two  Emperors.  — 
End  of  the  interview  at  Erfurt.  —  Separation. 

The  Emperor  Alexander  never  tired  of  showing  his 
regard  for  actors  by  presents  and  compliments ;  and  as  for 
actresses,  I  have  told  before  how  far  he  would  have  gone 
with  one  of  them  if  Napoleon  had  not  deterred  him.  Each 
day  the  Grand  Duke  Constantine  got  up  parties  of  pleas- 
ure with  Murat  and  other  distinguished  persons,  at  which 
no  expense  was  spared,  and  some  of  these  ladies  did  the 
honors.  And  what  furs  and  diamonds  they  carried  away 
from  Erfurt !  The  two  Emperors  were  not  ignorant  of  al] 
this,  and  were  much  amused  thereby ;  and  it  was  the  favor- 
ite subject  of  conversation  in  the  morning.  Constantine 
had  conceived  an  especial  affection  for  King  Jerome ;  and 


AT  ERFURT.  135 

the  king  even  carried  his  affection  so  far  as  to  tutoy  him, 
and  wished  hirn  to  do  the  same.  "Is  it  because  I  am  a 
king,"  he  said  one  day,  "that  you  are  afraid  to  say  thou  to 
me?  Come,  now,  is  there  any  need  of  formality  between 
friends  ? "  They  performed  all  sorts  of  college  pranks 
together,  even  running  through  the  streets  at  night,  knock- 
ing and  ringing  at  every  door,  much  delighted  when  they 
had  waked  up  some  honest  bourgeois.  As  the  Emperor 
was  leaving,  King  Jerome  said  to  the  grand  duke  ;  "  Come, 
tell   me    what   you    wish   me    to   send   you   from    Paris." 

—  "Nothing  whatever,"  replied  the  grand  duke.;  "your 
brother  has  presented  me  with  a  magnificent  sword ;  I  am 
satisfied,  and  desire  nothing  more."  —  "But  I  wish  to  send 
you  something,  so  tell  me  what  would  give  you  pleasure." 

—  "  Well,  send  me  six  demoiselles  from  the  Palais  Royal." 
The  play  at  Erfurt  usually  began  at  seven  o'clock ;  but 

the  two  Emperors,  who  always  came  together,  never  arrived 
till  half -past  seven.  At  their  entrance,  all  the  pit  of  kings 
rose  to  do  them  honor,  and  the  first  piece  immediately 
commenced. 

At  the  representation  of  Cinna,  the  Emperor  feared 
that  the  Czar,  who  was  placed  by  his  side  in  a  box  facing 
the  stage,  and  on  the  first  tier,  might  not  hear  very  well, 
as  he  was  somewhat  deaf ;  and  consequently  gave  orders 
to  M.  de  Remusat,  first  chamberlain,  that  a  platform  should 
be  raised  on  the  floor  of  the  orchestra,  and  armchairs 
placed  there  for  Alexander  and  himself;  and  on  the  right 
and  left  four  handsomely  decorated  chairs  for  the  King 
of  Saxony  and  the  other  sovereigns  of  the  Confederation, 
while  the  princes  took  possession  of  the  box  abandoned 
by  their  Majesties.     By  this  arrangement  the  two  Emperors 


136  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

found  themselves  in  such  a  conspicuous  position  that  it 
was  impossible  for  them  to  make  a  movement  without  being 
seen  by  every  one.  On  the  3d  of  October  (Edipus  was 
presented.  "All  the  sovereigns,"  as  the  Emperor  called 
them,  were  present  at  this  representation ;  and  just  as  the 
actor  pronounced  these  words  in  the  first  scene :  — 

"  The  friendship  of  a  great  man  is  a  gift  from  the  gods :  " 

the  Czar  arose,  and  held  out  his  hand  with  much  grace 
to  the  Emperor ;  and  immediately  acclamations,  which  the 
presence  of  the  sovereigns  could  not  restrain,  burst  forth 
from  every  part  of  the  hall. 

On  the  evening  of  this  same  day  I  prepared  the  Em- 
peror for  bed  as  usual.  All  the  doors  which  opened  into 
his  sleeping-room  were  carefully  closed,  as  well  as  the  shut- 
ters and  windows ;  and  there  was  consequently  no  means 
of  entering  his  Majesty's  room  except  through  the  chamber 
in  which  I  slept  with  Roustan,  and  a  sentinel  was  also  sta- 
tioned at  the  foot  of  the  staircase.  Every  night  I  slept 
very  calmly,  knowing  that  it  was  impossible  any  one  could 
reach  Napoleon  without  waking  me ;  but  that  night,  about 
two  o'clock,  while  I  was  sleeping  soundly,  a  strange  noise 
woke  me  with  a  start.  I  rubbed  my  eyes,  and  listened 
with  the  greatest  attention,  and,  hearing  nothing  whatever, 
thought  this  noise  the  illusion  of  a  dream,  and  was  just 
dropping  to  sleep  again,  when  my  ear  was  struck  by  low, 
smothered  screams,  such  as  a  man  might  utter  who  was 
being  strangled.  I  heard  them  repeated  twice,  and  in  an 
instant  was  sitting  up  straight  in  bed,  my  hair  on  end, 
and  my  limbs  covered  with  a  cold  sweat.  Suddenly  it  oc- 
curred to  me  that  the  Emperor  was  being  assassinated,  and 


NAPOLEON'S  NIGHTMARE.  137 

I  sprang  out  of  bed  and  woke  Roustan ;  and  as  the  cries 
now  recommenced  with  added  intensity,  I  opened  the  door 
as  cautiously  as  my  agitation  allowed,  and  entered  the 
sleeping-room,  and  with  a  hasty  glance  assured  myself  that 
no  one  could  have  entered.  On  advancing  towards  the 
bed,  I  perceived  his  Majesty  extended  across  it,  in  a  posi- 
tion denoting  great  agony,  the  drapery  and  bed-covering 
thrown  off,  and  his  whole  body  in  a  frightful  condition  of 
nervous  contraction.  From  his  open  mouth  escaped  inar- 
ticulate sounds,  his  breathing  appeared  greatly  oppressed, 
and  one  of  his  hands,  tightly  clinched,  lay  on  the  pit  of 
his  stomach.  I  was  terrified  at  the  sight,  and  called  him. 
He  did  not  reply;  again,  once,  twice  even,  still  no  reply. 
At  last  I  concluded  to  shake  him  gently;  and  at  this  the 
Emperor  awoke  with  a  loud  cry,  saying,  "What  is  it? 
What  is  it?"  then  sat  up  and  opened  his  eyes  wide;  upon 
which  I  told  him  that,  seeing  him  tormented  with  a  hor- 
rible nightmare,  I  had  taken  the  liberty  of  waking  him. 
"And  you  did  well,  my  dear  Constant,"  interrupted  his 
Majesty.  "Ah,  my  friend,  I  have  had  a  frightful  dream; 
a  bear  was  tearing  open  my  breast,  and  devouring  my 
heart!"  Thereupon  the  Emperor  rose,  and,  while  I  put 
his  bed  in  order,  walked  about  the  room.  He  was  obliged 
to  change  his  shirt,  which  was  wet  with  perspiration,  and 
at  length  again  retired. 

The  next  day,  when  he  woke,  he  told  me  that  it  was 
long  before  he  could  fall  to  sleep  again,  so  vivid  and  terri- 
ble was  the  impression  made  on  hirn.  He  long  retained 
the  memory  of  this  dream,  and  often  spoke  of  it,  each  time 
trying  to  draw  from  it  different  conclusions,  according  to 
circumstances. 


138  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

As  to  myself,  I  avow  I  was  struck  with  the  coincidence 
of  the  compliment  of  Alexander  at  the  theater  and  this 
frightful  nightmare,  especially  as  the  Emperor  was  not 
subject  to  disturbances  of  this  kind.  I  do  not  know 
whether  his  Majesty  related  his  dream  to  the  Emperor  of 
Russia. 

On  the  6th  of  October  their  Majesties  attended  a  hunt- 
ing-party which  the  Grand  Duke  of  Weimar  prepared  for 
them  in  the  forest  of  Ettersbourg.  The  Emperor  set  out 
from  Erfurt  at  noon,  with  the  Emperor  of  Russia  in  the 
same  coach.  They  arrived  in  the  forest  at  one  o'clock, 
and  found  prepared  for  them  a  hunting-pavilion,  which 
had  been  erected  expressly  for  this  occasion,  and  was  very 
handsomely  decorated.  This  pavilion  was  divided  into 
three  parts,  separated  by  open  columns;  that  in  the  mid- 
dle, raised  higher  than  the  others,  formed  a  pretty  room, 
arranged  and  furnished  for  the  two  Emperors.  Around 
the  pavilion  were  placed  numerous  orchestras,  which  played 
inspiriting  airs,  with  which  were  mingled  the  acclamations 
of  an  immense  crowd,  who  had  been  attracted  by  a  desire 
to  see  the  Emperor. 

The  two  sovereigns  were  received  on  their  descent  from 
their  carriage  by  the  Grand  Duke  of  Weimar  and  his  son, 
the  hereditary  prince,  Charles  Frederic ;  while  the  King  of 
Bavaria,  King  of  Saxony,  King  of  Wiirtemberg,  Prince  Wil- 
liam of  Prussia,  the  Princes  of  Mecklenburg,  the  Prince 
Primate,  and  the  Duke  of  Oldenburg  awaited  them  at  the 
entrance  to  the  saloon. 

The  Emperor  had  in  his  suite  the  Prince  of  Neuchatel ; 
the  Prince  of  Benevento;  the  grand  marshal  of  the  palace, 
Duke  de  Frioul ;   General  Caulaincourt,  Duke  of  Vicenza ; 


THE  HUNTING-PARTY.  139 

the  Duke  of  Rovigo ;  General  Lauristou,  his  Majesty's  aide- 
de-camp  ;  General  Nansouty,  first  equerry ;  the  chamberlain, 
Eugene  de  Montesquiou ;  the  Count  de  Beausset,  prefect  of 
the  palace  ;   and  M.  Cavaletti. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  was  accompanied  by  the  Grand 
Duke  Constantine ;  the  Count  Tolstoi,  grand  marshal ;  and 
Count  Oggeroski,  aide-de-camp  to  his  Majesty. 

The  hunt  lasted  nearly  two  hours,  during  which  time 
about  sixty  stags  and  roebucks  were  killed.  The  space  in 
which  these  poor  animals  had  to  run  was  inclosed  by  net- 
ting, in  order  that  the  monarchs  might  shoot  them  at 
pleasure,  without  disturbing  themselves  while  seated  in  the 
windows  of  the  pavilion.  I  have  never  seen  an}'thing  more 
absurd  than  hunts  of  this  sort,  which,  nevertheless,  give 
those  who  engage  in  them  a  reputation  as  fine  shots.  What 
skill  is  there  in  killing  an  animal  which  the  gamekeepers, 
so  to  speak,  take  by  the  ears  and  place  in  front  of  your  gun. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  was  near-sighted,  and  this  in- 
firmity had  deterred  him  from  an  amusement  which  he  would 
have  enjoyed  very  much ;  but  that  da}r,  however,  he  wished 
to  make  the  attempt,  and,  having  expressed  this  wish,  the 
Duke  of  Montebello  handed  him  a  gun,  and  M.  de  Beau- 
terne  had  the  honor  of  giving  the  Emperor  his  first  lesson. 
A  stag  was  driven  so  as  to  pass  within  about  eight  steps  of 
Alexander,  who  brought  him  down  at  the  first  shot. 

After  the  hunt  their  Majesties  repaired  to  the  palace  of 
Weimar;  and  the  reigning  duchess  received  them,  as  they 
alighted  from  their  carriages,  accompanied  by  her  whole 
court.  The  Emperor  saluted  the  duchess  affectionately, 
remembering  that  he  had  seen  her  two  years  before  under 
very  different  circumstances,  which  I  mentioned  in  its  place. 


140  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  Duke  of  Weimar  had  requested  from  the  grand  marshal 
French  cooks  to  prepare  the  Emperor's  dinner,  but  the 
Emperor  preferred  being  served  in  the  German  style. 

Their  Majesties  invited  to  dine  with  them  the  Duke  and 
Duchess  of  Weimar,  the  Queen  of  Westphalia,  the  King  of 
Wurtemberg,  the  King  of  Saxony,  the  Grand  Duke  Constan- 
tine,  Prince  William  of  Prussia,  the  Prince  Primate,  the 
Prince  of  Neuchatel,  Prince  Talleyrand,  the  Duke  of  Olden- 
burg, the  hereditary  Prince  of  Weimar,  and  the  Prince  of 
Mecklenburg-Schwerin. 

After  this  dinner  there  was  a  play,  followed  by  a  ball, 
the  play  being  at  the  town  theater,  where  the  ordinary  co- 
medians of  his  Majesty  presented  the  death  of  Csesar ;  and 
the  ball,  at  the  ducal  palace.  The  Emperor  Alexander 
opened  the  ball  with  the  Queen  of  Westphalia,  to  the  great 
astonishment  of  every  one ;  for  it  was  well  known  that  this 
monarch  had  never  danced  since  his  accession  to  the  throne, 
conduct  which  the  older  men  of  the  court  thought  very 
praiseworthy,  holding  the  opinion  that  a  sovereign  occupies 
too  high  a  place  to  share  in  the  tastes  and  take  pleasure  in 
amusements  common  to  the  rest  of  mankind.  Except  tliis, 
however,  there  was  nothing  in  the  ball  of  Weimar  to  scan- 
dalize them,  as  they  did  not  dance,  but  promenaded  in 
couples,  whilst  the  orchestra  played  marches. 

The  morning  of  the  next  day  their  Majesties  entered 
carriages  to  visit  Mount  Napoleon,  near  Jena,  where  a 
splendid  breakfast  was  prepared  for  them  under  a  tent 
which  the  Duke  of  Weimar  had  erected  on  the  identical 
spot  where  the  Emperor's  bivouac  stood  on  the  day  of  the 
battle  of  Jena.  After  breakfast  the  two  Emperors  ascended 
a  temporary  pavilion  which  had  been  erected  on  Mount 


VISIT    TO  J&NA.  141 

Napoleon ;  this  pavilion,  which  was  very  large,  had  been 
decorated  with  plans  of  the  battle.  A  deputation  from  the 
town  and  university  of  Jena  arrived,  and  were  received  by 
their  Majesties ;  and  the  Emperor  inquired  of  the  deputies 
the  most  minute  particulars  relating  to  their  town,  its  re- 
sources, and  the  manners  and  character  of  its  inhabitants  ; 
questioned  them  on  the  approximate  damages  which  the 
military  hospital,  which  had  been  so  long  left  with  them, 
had  caused  the  inhabitants  of  Jena ;  inquired  the  names  of 
those  who  had  suffered  most  from  fire  and  war,  and  gave 
orders  that  a  gratuity  should  be  distributed  among  them, 
and  the  small  proprietors  entirely  indemnified.  His  Maj- 
esty informed  himself  with  much  interest  of  the  condition 
of  the  Catholic  worship,  and  promised  to  endow  the  vicarage 
in  perpetuity,  granting  three  hundred  thousand  francs  for 
immediate  necessities,  and  promising  to  give  still  more. 

After  having  visited,  on  horseback,  the  positions  which 
the  two  armies  had  held  the  evening  before,  and  on  the  day 
of,  the  battle  of  Jena,  as  well  as  the  plain  of  Aspolda,  on 
which  the  duke  had  prepared  a  hunt  with  guns,  the  two 
Emperors  returned  to  Erfurt,  which  they  reached  at  rive 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  almost  at  the  very  moment  the 
grand  hereditary  duke  of  Baden  and  the  Princess  Stephanie 
arrived. 

During  the  entire  visit  of  the  sovereigns  to  the  battle- 
field, the  Emperor  most  graciously  made  explanations  to  the 
young  Czar,  to  which  he  listened  with  the  greatest  interest. 
His  Majesty  seemed  to  take  pleasure  in  explaining  at  length, 
—  first,  the  plan  which  he  had  formed  and  carried  out  at 
J6na,  and  afterwards  the  various  plans  of  his  other  cam- 
paigns, the  maneuvers   which  he  had  executed,  his  usual 


142  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

tactics,  and,  in  fine,  his  whole  ideas  on  the  art  of  war. 
The  Emperor  thus,  for  several  hours,  carried  on  the  whole 
conversation  alone ;  and  his  royal  audience  paid  him  as 
much  attention  as  scholars,  eager  to  learn,  pay  to  the  in- 
structions of  their  teacher. 

When  his  Majesty  returned  to  his  apartment,  I  heard 
Marshal  Berthier  say  to  him,  "  Sire,  are  you  not  afraid  that 
the  sovereigns  may  some  day  use  to  advantage  against  you 
all  that  you  have  just  taught  them  ?  Your  Majesty  just  now 
seemed  to  forget  what  you  formerly  told  us,  that  it  is  neces- 
sary to  act  with  our  allies  as  if  they  were  afterwards  to  be 
our  enemies."  —  "  Berthier,"  replied  the  Emperor,  smiling, 
"  that  is  a  good  observation  on  your  part,  and  I  thank  you 
for  it,  I  really  believe  I  have  made  you  think  I  was  an 
idiot.  You  think,  then,"  continued  his  Majesty,  pinching 
sharply  one  of  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel's  ears,  "  that  I  com- 
mitted the  indiscretion  of  giving  them  whips  with  which  to 
return  and  flog  us  ?     Calm  yourself,  I  did  not  tell  them  all." 

The  Emperor's  table  at  Erfurt  was  in  the  form  of  a 
half-moon ;  and  at  the  upper  end,  and  consequently  at  the 
rounded  part,  of  this  table  their  Majesties  were  seated,  and 
on  the  right  and  left  the  sovereigns  of  the  Confederation 
according  to  their  rank.  The  side  facing  their  Majesties 
was  always  empty ;  and  there  stood  M.  de  Beausset,  the 
prefect  of  the  palace,  who  relates  in  his  Memoirs  that  one 
day  he  overheard  the  following  conversation :  — 

"  On  that  day  the  subject  of  conversation  was  the  Golden  Bull, 
which,  until  the  establishment  of  the  Confederation  of  the  Rhine,  had 
served  as  a  constitution,  and  had  regulated  the  law  for  the  election  of 
emperors,  the  number  and  rank  of  the  electors,  etc.  The  Prince  Pri- 
mate entered  into  some  details  regarding  this  Golden  Bull,  which  he 


AT  ERFURT.  143 

said  was  made  in  1409  ;  -whereupon  the  Emperor  Napoleon  pointed  out 
to  him  that  the  date  which  was  assigned  to  the  Golden  Bull  was  not 
correct,  and  that  it  was  proclaimed  in  1336,  during  the  reign  of  the 
Emperor  Charles  IV.  '  That  is  true,  Sire,'  replied  the  Prince  Primate, 
'  I  was  mistaken  ;  but  how  does  it  happen  that  your  Majesty  is  so  well 
acquainted  with  these  matters  ? '  —  '  When  I  was  a  mere  sub-lieutenant 
in  the  artillery,'  said  Napoleon,  —  at  this  beginning,  there  was  on  the 
part  of  the  guests  a  marked  movement  of  interest,  and  he  continued, 
smiling,  —  <  when  I  had  the  honor  to  be  simply  sub-lieutenant  in  the 
artillery  I  remained  three  years  in  the  garrison  at  Valence,  and,  as  I 
cared  little  for  society,  led  a  very  retired  life.  By  fortunate  chance 
I  had  lodgings  with  a  kind  and  intelligent  bookseller.  I  read  and 
re-read  his  library  during  the  three  years  I  remained  in  the  garrison^ 
and  have  forgotten  nothing,  even  matters  which  have  had  no  connec- 
tion with  my  position.  Nature,  besides,  has  given  me  a  good  memory 
for  figures,  and  it  often  happens  with  my  ministers  that  I  can  give 
them  details  and  the  sum  total  of  accounts  they  presented  long 
since.'  " 

A  few  days  before  his  departure  from  Erfurt,  the  Em- 
peror bestowed  the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  on  M. 
de  Bigi,  commandant  of  arms  at  this  place  ;  M.  Vegel,  bur- 
gomaster of  Jena ;  Messrs.  Weiland  and  Goethe  ;  M.  Starlk, 
senior  physician  at  Jena.  He  gave  to  General  Count 
Tolstoi',  ambassador  from  Russia,  who  had  been  recalled 
from  this  post  by  his  sovereign  to  take  a  command  in  the 
army,  the  grand  decoration  of  the  Legion  of  Honor ;  to 
M.  the  dean  Meimung,  who  had  said  mass  twice  at  the 
palace,  a  ring  of  brilliants,  with  the  cipher  N  surmounted 
by  a  crown;  and  a  hundred  napoleons  to  the  two  priests 
who  had  assisted  him ;  finally,  to  the  grand  marshal  of 
the  palace.  Count  Tolstoi',  the  beautiful  Gobelin  tapestry, 
Savonnerie  carpets,  and  Sevres  porcelain,  which  had  been 
brought  from  Paris  to  furnish  the  palace  of  Erfurt.     The 


144 


RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


minister's  grand  officers,  and  officers  of  Alexander's  suite, 
received  from  his  Majesty  magnificent  presents ;  and  the 
Emperor  Alexander  did  likewise  in  regard  to  the  persons 
attached  to  his  Majesty.  He  gave  the  Duke  of  Vicenza 
the  grand  cordon  of  Saint  Andrew,  and  a  badge  of  the 
same  order  set  in  diamonds  to  the  Princes  of  Benevento 
and  Neuchatel. 

Charmed  by  the  talent  of  the  French  comedians,  espe- 
cially that  of  Talma,  the  Emperor  Alexander  sent  very 
handsome  presents  to  her  as  well  as  all  her  companions; 
he  sent  compliments  to  the  actresses,  and  to  the  director,  M. 
Dazincourt,  whom  he  did  not  forget  in  his  distribution  of  gifts. 

This  interview  at  Erfurt,  which  was  so  brilliant  with 
illuminations,  splendor,  and  luxury,  ended  on  the  14th  of 
October;  and  all  the  great  personages  whom  it  had  at- 
tracted left  between  the  8th  and  the  14th  of  October.1 

1  This  is  the  list  of  the  principal  persons. 


The  King  of  Bavaria. 

The  King  of  Wiirtemberg. 

The  King  of  Saxony. 

The  King  and  Queen  of  Westphalia. 

The  Prince  Primate. 

The  Grand  Duke  and  the  Grand  Duch- 
ess of  Hesse-Darmstadt. 

The  Grand  Duke  and  the  Grand  Duch- 
ess of  Baden. 

The  Duke  and  the  Duchess  of  Weimar. 

The  hereditary  Prince  of  Weimar. 

Prince  Leopold  of  Saxe-Coburg. 

The  Duke  of  Saxe-Gotha. 

The  Duke  of  Oldenburg. 

Prince  William  of  Prussia. 

The  Prince  of  Mecklenburg-Schwerin. 

The  Prince  of  Mecklenburg-Strelitz. 

The  Prince  of  Anhalt-Dessau. 

The  Prince  of  Waldeck. 

The  Prince  of  Laleyen. 

The  Prince  of  Reuss. 

The  Prince  of  Ebersdorff . 

The  Prince  of  Gera. 

The  Prince  of  Schleitz. 


The  Princess  de  la  Tour  and  Taxis. 

The  Prince  of  Salm-Dyck,  aide-de-camp  of 

the  King  of  Wiirtemberg. 
The  Prince  of  Hohenlohe-Kirkberg,  idem. 
The  Prince  of  Salm-Sahn. 
The  Prince  of  Schaumburg. 
The  Prince  of  Bernburg. 
The  Prince  of  Isemburg. 
The  Prince  of  Rudolstadt. 
The  Prince  of  Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. 
Duke  William  of  Bavaria. 
The  Duchess  of  Hildburghausen. 
The  Countess  of  Truxes. 
The  Count  and  Countess  of  Bochols. 
The  Count  of  Mongellaz. 
The  Count  of  Wiirtemberg. 
The  Count  of  Reuss. 
The  Baron  Vincent. 
The  Duke  of  Mondragone. 
The  Duke  of  Birkenfeld. 
The  Count  of  Goerliz,  grand  equerry  of 

the  King  of  Wiirtemberg. 
The  Count  of  Taube,  prime  minister,  idem. 
The  Count  de  Dille,  aide-de-camp, idem,etc. 


DEPARTURE  FROM  ERFURT.  145 

The  day  of  his  departure  the  Emperor  gave  an  audi- 
ence, after  his  toilet,  to  Baron  Vincent,  envoy  extraordinary 
of  Austria,  and  sent  by  him  a  letter  to  his  sovereign.  At 
eleven  o'clock  the  Emperor  of  Russia  came  to  his  Majesty, 
who  received  him,  and  reconducted  him  to  his  residence 
with  great  ceremony;  and  soon  after  his  Majesty  repaired 
to  the  Russian  palace,  followed  by  his  whole  suite.  After 
mutual  compliments  they  entered  the  carriage  together,  and 
did  not  part  till  they  reached  the  spot  on  the  road  from 
Weimar  where  they  had  met  on  their  arrival.  There 
they  embraced  each  other  affectionately  and  separated ; 
and  the  18th  of  October,  at  half-past  nine  in  the  evening, 
the  Emperor  was  at  Saint-Cloud,  having  made  the  whole 
trip  incognito. 


146  UECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Return  to  Saint-Cloud.  —  Departure  for  Bayonne.  —  Fears  of  the  Empress 
Josephine.  —  Mysterious  sachet  worn  on  the  campaign  by  Napoleon.  — 
Sadness  of  Constant. —  Presentiment. —  Arrival  at  Vittoria.  — The  capture 
of  Burgos.  —  Bivouac  of  the  grenadiers  of  the  old  guard.  —  On  the  march 
to  Madrid.  —  Passage  of  the  Somo  Sierra.  —  Arrival  before  Madrid. — 
The  Emperor  at  the  residence  of  the  mother  of  the  Duke  of  Infantado. 

—  Capture  of  Madrid. — The  Spaniards'  respect  for  loyalty.  —  The  Mar- 
quis" of  Saint-Simon  condemned  to  death,  and  pardoned  by  the  Emperor. 

—  King  Joseph  re-enters  Madrid.  — Adventure  with  a  beautiful  Spanish 
actress.  —  Napoleon's  dislike  to  perfumes. — Sudden  headache. — The 
young  actress  abruptly  dismissed  by  the  Emperor. — Misery  of  the  sol- 
diers.—  The  abbess  of  the  convent  of  Tordesillas.  — Arrival  at  Vallado- 
lid.  — Assassinations  by  Dominican  friars.  —  Hubert,  the  Emperor's  valet 
de  chambre,  attacked  by  monks.  —  The  monks  forced  to  appear  before  the 
Emperor.  —  Excessive  anger.  —  Complaint  made  of  Constant  by  Grand 
Marshal  Duroc. —  Constant's  distress.  —  Kindness  and  justice  of  the  Em- 
peror. —  Reconciliation.  —  Grand  Marshal  Duroc's  kind  feelings  toward 
Constant. — Constant's  illness  at  Valladolid.  —  The  fever  conquered. — 
The  return  to  Paris.  — Disgrace  of  Prince  Talleyrand. 

His  Majesty  remained  only  ten  days  at  Saint>Cloud, 
passed  two  or  three  of  these  in  Paris  at  the  opening  of  the 
session  of  the  Corps  Legislatif,  and  at  noon  on  the  29th 
set  out  a  second  time  for  Bayonne. 

The  Empress,  who  to  her  great  chagrin  could  not 
accompany  the  Emperor,  sent  for  me  on  the  morning  of 
his  departure,  and  renewed  in  most  touching  accents  the 
same  recommendations  which  she  made  on  all  his  journeys, 
for  the  character  of  the  Spaniards  made  her  timid  and 
fearful  as  to  his  safety. 

Their  parting  was  sad  and  painful ;  for  the  Empress  was 


ANXIETY   OF  JOSEPHINE.  147 

exceedingly  anxious  to  accompany  him,  and  the  Emperor 
had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  satisfying  her,  and  making 
her  understand  that  this  was  impossible.  Just  as  he  was 
setting  out  he  returned  to  his  dressing-room  a  moment, 
and  told  me  to  unbutton  his  coat  and  vest;  and  I  saw  the 
Emperor  pass  around  his  neck  between  his  vest  and  shirt  a 
black  silk  ribbon  on  which  was  hung  a  kind  of  little  bag 
about  the  size  of  a  large  hazel-nut,  covered  with  black  silk. 
Though  I  did  not  then  know  what  this  bag  contained,  when 
he  returned  to  Paris  he  gave  it  to  me  to  keep ;  and  I  found 
that  this  bag  had  a  pleasant  feeling,  as  under  the  silk  cover- 
ing was  another  of  skin.  I  shall  hereafter  tell  for  what 
purpose  the  Emperor  wore  this  bag. 

I  set  out  with  a  sad  heart.  The  recommendations  of 
her  Majesty  the  Empress,  and  fears  which  I  could  not  throw 
off,  added  to  the  fatigue  of  these  repeated  journeys,  all 
conspired  to  produce  feelings  of  intense  sadness,  which 
was  reflected  on  almost  all  the  countenances  of  the  Imperial 
household;  while  the  officers  said  among  themselves  that 
the  combats  in  the  North  were  trifling  compared  with  those 
which  awaited  us  in  Spain. 

We  arrived  on  the  3d  of  November  at  the  chateau  of 
Marrac,  and  four  days  after  were  at  Vittoria  in  the  midst  of 
the  French  army,  where  the  Emperor  found  his  brother  and 
a  few  grandees  of  Spain  who  had  not  yet  deserted  liis  cause. 

The  arrival  of  his  Majesty  electrified  the  troops ;  and  a 
part  of  the  enthusiasm  manifested,  a  very  small  part  it  is 
true,  penetrated  into  the  heart  of  the  king,  and  somewhat 
renewed  his  courage.  They  set  out  almost  immediately,  in 
order  to  at  once  establish  themselves  temporarily  at  Bur- 
gos, which  had  been  seized  by  main  force  and  pillaged  in  a 


148  BECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

few  hours,  since  the  inhabitants  had  abandoned  it,  and  left 
to  the  garrison  the  task  of  stopping  the  French  as  long  as 
possible. 

The  Emperor  occupied  the  archiepiscopal  palace,  a  mag- 
nificent building  situated  in  a  large  square  on  which  the 
grenadiers  of  the  Imperial  Guard  bivouacked.  This  bivouac 
presented  a  singular  scene.  Immense  kettles,  which  had 
been  found  in  the  convents,  hung,  full  of  mutton,  poultry, 
rabbits,  etc.,  above  a  fire  which  was  replenished  from  time 
to  time  with  furniture,  guitars,  or  mandolins,  and  around 
which  grenadiers,  with  pipes  in  their  mouths,  were  gravely 
seated  in  gilded  chairs  covered  with  crimson  damask,  while 
they  intently  watched  the  kettles  as  they  simmered,  and 
communicated  to  each  other  their  conjectures  on  the  cam- 
paign which  had  just  opened. 

The  Emperor  remained  ten  or  twelve  days  at  Burgos, 
and  then  gave  orders  to  march  on  Madrid,  which  place 
could  have  been  reached  by  way  of  Valladolid,  and  the 
road  was  indeed  safer  and  better ;  but  the  Emperor  wished 
to  seize  the  Pass  of  Somo-Sierra,  an  imposing  position  with 
natural  fortifications  which  had  always  been  regarded  as 
impregnable.  This  pass,  between  two  mountain  peaks,  de- 
fended the  capital,  and  was  guarded  by  twelve  thousand 
insurgents,  and  twelve  pieces  of  cannon  placed  so  advanta- 
geously that  they  could  do  as  much  injury  as  thirty  or 
forty  elsewhere,  and  were,  in  fact,  a  sufficient  obstacle  to 
delay  even  the  most  formidable  army ;  but  who  could  then 
oppose  any  hindrance  to  the  march  of  the  Emperor  ? 

On  the  evening  of  the  29th  of  November  we  arrived 
within  three  leagues  of  this  formidable  defile,  at  a  village 
called  Basaguillas ;  and  though  the  weather  was  veiy  cold, 


AT  MADRID.  149 

the  Emperor  did  not  lie  down,  but  passed  the  night  in  his 
tent,  writing,  wrapped  in  the  pelisse  which  the  Emperor 
Alexander  had  given  him.  About  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning  he  came  to  warm  himself  by  the  bivouac  fire 
where  I  had  seated  myself,  as  I  could  no  longer  endure  the 
cold  and  dampness  of  a  cellar  which  had  been  assigned  as 
my  lodging,  and  where  my  bed  was  only  a  few  handfuls 
of  straw,  filled  with  manure. 

At  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  position  was  at- 
tacked and  carried,  and  the  next  day  we  arrived  before 
Madrid. 

The  Emperor  established  his  headquarters  at  the  cha- 
teau of  Champ-Martin,  a  pleasure  house  situated  a  quarter 
of  a  league  from  the  town,  and  belonging  to  the  mother  of 
the  Duke  of  Infantado ;  and  the  army  camped  around  this 
house.  The  day  after  our  arrival,  the  owner  came  in  tears 
to  entreat  of  his  Majesty  a  revocation  of  the  fatal  decree 
which  put  her  son  outside  the  protection  of  the  law;  the 
Emperor  did  all  he  could  to  reassure  her,  but  he  could 
promise  her  nothing,  as  the  order  was  general. 

We  had  some  trouble  in  capturing  this  town :  in  the 
first  place,  because  his  Majesty  recommended  the  greatest 
moderation  in  making  the  attack,  not  wishing,  as  he  said, 
to  present  to  his  brother  a  burned-up  city ;  in  the  second 
place,  because  the  Grand  Duke  of  Berg  during  his  stay  at 
Madrid  had  fortified  the  palace  of  Retiro,  and  the  Span- 
ish insurgents  had  intrenched  themselves  there,  and  de- 
fended it  most  courageously.  The  town  had  no  other 
defense,  and  was  surrounded  only  by  an  old  wall,  almost 
exactly  similar  to  that  of  Paris,  consequently  at  the  end  of 
three  days  it  was  taken  ;  but  the  Emperor  preferred  not  to 


150  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

enter,  and  still  resided  at  Champ-Martin,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  day  when  he  came  incognito  and  in  disguise, 
to  visit  the  queen's  palace  and  the  principal  districts. 

One  striking  peculiarity  of  the  Spaniards  is  the  respect 
they  have  always  shown  for  everything  relating  to  royalty, 
whether  they  regard  it  as  legitimate  or  not.  When  King 
Joseph  left  Madrid  the  palace  was  closed,  and  the  govern- 
ment established  itself  in  a  passably  good  building  which 
had  been  used  as  the  post-office.  From  this  time  no  one 
entered  the  palace  except  the  servants,  who  had  orders  to 
clean  it  from  time  to  time;  not  a  piece  of  furniture  even, 
not  a  book,  was  moved.  The  portrait  of  Napoleon  on  Mont 
St.  Bernard,  David's  masterpiece,  remained  hanging  in  the 
grand  reception  hall,  and  the  queen's  portrait  opposite, 
exactly  as  the  king  had  placed  them ;  and  even  the  cel- 
lars were  religiously  respected.  The  apartments  of  King 
Charles  had  also  remained  untouched,  and  not  one  of  the 
watches  in  his  immense  collection  had  been  removed. 

The  act  of  clemency  which  his  Majesty  showed  toward 
the  Marquis  of  Saint-Simon,  a  grandee  of  Spain,  marked  in 
an  especial  manner  the  entrance  of  the  French  troops  into 
Madrid.  The  Marquis  of  Saint-Simon,  a  French  emigrant, 
had  been  in  the  service  of  Spain  since  the  emigration,  and 
had  the  command  of  a  part  of  the  capital.  The  post  which 
he  defended  was  exactly  in  front  of  that  which  the  Em- 
peror commanded  at  the  gates  of  Madrid,  and  he  had  held 
out  long  after  all  the  other  leaders  had  surrendered. 

The  Emperor,  impatient  at  being  so  long  withstood  at 
this  point,  gave  orders  to  make  a  still  more  vigorous  charge  ; 
and  in  this  the  marquis  was  taken  prisoner.  In  his  ex- 
treme anger  the    Emperor  sent  him  to  be  tried  before  a 


IN  SPAIN.  151 

military  commission,  who  ordered  him  to  be  shot ;  and  this 
order  was  on  the  point  of  being  executed,  when  Mademoi- 
selle de  Saint-Simon,  a  charming  young  person,  threw  her- 
self at  his  Majesty's  feet,  and  her  father's  pardon  was 
quickly  granted. 

The  king  immediately  re-entered  his  capital ;  and  with 
him  returned  the  noble  families  of  Madrid,  who  had  with- 
drawn from  the  stirring  scenes  enacted  at  the  center  of 
the  insurrection ;  and  soon  balls,  fetes,  festivities,  and  plays 
were  resumed  as  of  yore. 

The  Emperor  left  Champ-Martin  on  the  2 2d  of  Decem- 
ber, and  directed  his  march  towards  Astorga,  with  the 
intention  of  meeting  the  English,  who  had  just  landed  at 
Corunna ;  but  dispatches  sent  to  Astorga  by  a  courier  from 
Paris  decided  him  to  return  to  France,  and  he  consequently 
gave  orders  to  set  out  for  Valladolid. 

We  found  the  road  from  Benavente  to  Astorga  covered 
with  corpses,  slain  horses,  artillery  carriages,  and  brokeu 
wagons,  and  at  every  step  met  detachments  of  soldiers 
with  torn  clothing,  without  shoes,  and,  indeed,  in  a  most 
deplorable  condition.  These  unfortunates  were  all  fleeing 
towards  Astorga,  which  they  regarded  as  a  port  of  safety, 
but  which  soon  could  not  contain  them  all.  It  was  terrible 
weather,  the  snow  falling  so  fast  that  it  was  almost  blind- 
ing; and,  added  to  this,  I  was  ill,  and  suffered  greatly 
during  this  painful  journey. 

The  Emperor  while  at  Tordesillas  had  established  his 
headquarters  in  the  buildings  outside  the  convent  of  Saint- 
Claire,  and  the  abbess  of  this  convent  was  presented  to  his 
Majesty.  She  was  then  more  than  sixty-five  years  old,  and 
from  the  age  of  ten  years  had  never  left  this  place.     Her 


152  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

intelligent  and  refined  conversation  made  a  most  agreeable 
impression  on  the  Emperor,  who  inquired  what  were  her 
wishes,  and  granted  each  one. 

We  arrived  at  Valladolid  the  6th  of  January,  1809,  and 
found  it  in  a  state  of  great  disorder.  Two  or  three  days 
after  our  arrival,  a  cavalry  officer  was  assassinated  by  Do- 
minican monks;  and  as  Hubert,  one  of  our  comrades,  was 
passing  in  the  evening  through  a  secluded  street,  three 
men  threw  themselves  on  him  and  wounded  him  severely ; 
and  he  would  doubtless  have  been  killed  if  the  grenadiers 
of  the  guard  had  not  hastened  to  his  assistance,  and  deliv- 
ered him  from  their  hands.  It  was  the  monks  again.  At 
length  the  Emperor,  much  incensed,  gave  orders  that  the 
convent  of  the  Dominicans  should  be  searched ;  and  in  a 
well  was  found  the  corpse  of  the  aforesaid  officer,  in  the 
midst  of  a  considerable  mass  of  bones,  and  the  convent 
was  immediately  suppressed  by  his  Majesty's  orders ;  he 
even  thought  at  one  time  of  issuing  the  same  rigorous 
orders  against  all  the  convents  of  the  city.  He  took  time 
for  reflection,  however,  and  contented  himself  by  appointing 
an  audience,  at  which  all  the  monks  of  Valladolid  were  to 
appear  before  him.  On  the  appointed  day  they  came ;  not 
all,  however,  but  deputations  from  each  convent,  Avho  pros- 
trated themselves  at  the  Emperor's  feet,  while  he  showered 
reproaches  upon  them,  called  them  assassins  and  brigands, 
and  said  they  all  deserved  to  be  hung.  These  poor  men 
listened  in  silence  and  humility  to  the  terrible  language 
of  the  irritated  conqueror  whom  their  patience  alone  could 
appease  ;  and  finally,  the  Emperor's  anger  having  exhausted 
itself,  he  grew  calmer,  and  at  last,  struck  by  the  reflection 
that  it  was  hardly  just  to  heap  abuse  on  men  thus  prostrate 


AT   VALLALOLID.  153 

on  their  knees  and  uttering  not  a  word  in  their  own  defense, 
he  left  the  group  of  officers  who  surrounded  him,  and  ad- 
vanced into  the  midst  of  the  monks,  making  them  a  sign  to 
rise  from  their  supplicating  posture  ;  and  as  these  good  men 
obeyed  him,  they  kissed  the  skirts  of  his  coat,  and  pressed 
around  him  with  an  eagerness  most  alarming  to  the  per- 
sons of  his  Majesty's  suite ;  for  had  there  been  among  these 
devotees  any  Dominican,  nothing  surely  could  have  been 
easier  than  an  assassination. 

During  the  Emperor's  stay  at  Valladolid,  I  had  with 
the  grand  marshal  a  disagreement  of  which  I  retain  most 
vivid  recollections,  as  also  of  the  Emperor's  intervention 
wherein  he  displayed  both  justice  and  good- will  towards 
me.  These  are  the  facts  of  the  case :  one  morning  the 
Duke  de  Frioul,  encountering  me  in  his  Majesty's  apart- 
ments, inquired  in  a  very  brusque  tone  (he  was  very  much 
excited)  if  I  had  ordered  the  carriage  to  be  ready,  to  which 
I  replied  in  a  most  respectful  manner  that  they  were  always 
ready.  Three  times  the  duke  repeated  the  same  question, 
raising  his  voice  still  more  each  time ;  and  three  times  I 
made  him  the  same  reply,  always  in  the  same  respectful 
manner.  "Oh,  you  fool!  "  said  he  at  last,  "you  do  not 
understand,  then."  —  u  That  arises  evidently,  Monseigneur, 
from  your  Excellency's  imperfect  explanations !  "  Upon 
which  he  explained  that  he  was  speaking  of  a  new  carnage 
which  had  come  from  Paris  that  very  day,  a  fact  of  which 
I  was  entirely  ignorant.  I  was  on  the  point  of  explain- 
ing this  to  his  Excellency ;  but  without  deigning  to  listen, 
the  grand  marshal  rushed  out  of  the  room  exclaiming, 
swearing,  and  addressing  me  in  terms  to  which  I  was  totally 
unaccustomed.     I  followed  him  as  far  as  his  own  room  in 


154  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

order  to  make  an  explanation ;  but  when  he  reached  his 
door  he  entered,  and  slammed  it  in  my  face. 

In  spite  of  all  this  I  entered  a  few  moments  later;  but 
his  Excellency  had  forbidden  his  valet  de  ehambre  to  intro- 
duce me,  saying  that  he  had  nothing  to  say  to  me,  nor 
to  hear  from  me,  all  of  which  was  repeated  to  me  in  a 
very  harsh  and  contemptuous  manner. 

Little  accustomed  to  such  experiences,  and  entirely  un- 
nerved, I  went  to  the  Emperor's  room ;  and  when  his  Majesty 
entered  I  was  still  so  agitated  that  my  face  was  wet  with 
tears.  His  Majesty  wished  to  know  what  had  happened, 
and  I  related  to  him  the  attack  which  had  just  been  made 
upon  me  by  the  grand  marshal.  "  You  are  very  foolish 
to  cry,"  said  the  Emperor ;  "  calm  yourself,  and  say  to  the 
grand  marshal  that  I  wish  to  speak  to  him." 

His  Excellency  came  at  once  in  response  to  the  Emper- 
or's invitation,  and  I  announced  him.  "  See,"  said  he, 
pointing  to  me,  "see  into  what  a  state  you  have  thrown 
this  fellow!  What  has  he  done  to  be  thus  treated?"  The 
grand  marshal  bowed  without  replying,  but  with  a  very 
dissatisfied  air;  and  the  Emperor  went  on  to  say  that 
he  should  have  given  me  his  orders  more  clearly,  and 
that  any  one  was  excusable  for  not  executing  an  order  not 
plainly  given.  Then  turning  toward  me,  his  Majesty  said, 
"  Monsieur  Constant,  you  may  be  certain  this  will  not  occur 
again." 

This  simple  affair  furnishes  a  reply  to  many  false  ac- 
cusations against  the  Emperor.  There  was  an  immense 
distance  between  the  grand  marshal  of  the  palace  and  the 
simple  valet  de  ehambre  of  his  Majesty,  and  yet  the  marshal 
was  reprimanded  for  a  wrong  done  to  the  valet  de  ehambre. 


JUSTICE  OF  THE  EMPEROR.  155 

The  Emperor  showed  the  utmost  impartiality  in  metiug 
out  justice  in  his  domestic  affairs ;  and  never  was  the  inte- 
rior of  a  palace  better  governed  than  his,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  in  his  household  he  alone  was  master. 

The  grand  marshal  felt  unkindly  toward  me  for  some- 
time after ;  but,  as  I  have  already  said,  he  was  an  excellent 
man,  his  bad  humor  soon  passed  away,  and  so  completely, 
that  on  my  return  to  Paris  he  requested  me  to  stand 
for  him  at  the  baptism  of  the  child  of  my  father-in-law, 
who  had  begged  him  to  be  its  godfather;  the  godmother 
was  Josephine,  who  was  kind  enough  to  choose  my  wife 
to  represent  her.  M.  le  Duke  de  Frioul  did  things  with  as 
much  nobility  and  magnanimity  as  grace  ;  and  afterwards 
I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  state  in  justice  to  Ms  memory, 
he  eagerly  seized  every  occasion  to  be  useful  to  me,  and  to 
make  me  forget  the  discomfort  his  temporary  excitement 
had  caused  me. 

I  fell  ill  at  Valladolid  with  a  violent  fever  a  few 
days  before  his  Majesty's  departure.  On  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  leaving,  my  illness  was  at  its  height ;  and  as 
the  Emperor  feared  that  the  journey  might  increase,  or 
at  any  rate  prolong,  my  illness,  he  forbade  my  going,  and 
set  out  without  me,  recommending  to  the  persons  whom 
he  left  at  Valladolid  to  take  care  of  my  health.  When 
I  had  gotten  somewhat  better  I  was  told  that  his  Majesty 
had  left,  whereupon  I  could  no  longer  be  controlled,  and 
against  my  physician's  orders,  and  in  spite  of  my  feeble- 
ness, in  spite  of  everything,  in  fact,  had  myself  placed  in 
a  carriage  and  set  out.  This  was  wise ;  for  hardly  had 
I  put  Valladolid  two  leagues  behind  me,  than  I  felt  bet- 
ter,  and   the   fever   left  me.     I  arrived  at  Paris  five   or 


156  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

six  days  after  the  Emperor,  just  after  his  Majesty  had 
appointed  the  Count  Montesquiou  grand  chamberlain  in 
place  of  Prince  Talleyrand,  whom  I  met  that  very  day, 
and  who  seemed  in  no  wise  affected  by  this  disgrace,  — 
perhaps  he  was  consoled  by  the  dignity  of  vice-grand  elec- 
tor which  was  bestowed  on  him  in  exchange. 


RETURN  TO  PARIS.  157 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

Arrival  at  Paris.  — The  Palace  of  Madrid  and  the  Louvre.  — The  chateau  of 
Chambord  intended  for  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel.  —  Constant  employment 
of  the  Emperor. — The  Emperor  as  a  musical  critic. — The  Emperor's 
falsetto  voice  and  habit  of  humming.  —  The  Marseillaise  the  signal  for 
departure. — The  Emperor's  gayety  as  he  sets  out  on  the  Russian  cam- 
paign.—  Crescentini  and  Madame  Grassini.  —  Play  of  Cresceutini. — 
Satisfaction  and  generosity  of  the  Emperor.  —  Illness  and  death  of  Da- 
zincourt.  —  Ingratitude  of  the  public.  —  A  word  about  Dazincourt.  —  The 
Emperor's  stay  at  the  Elyse'e. — Marriage  of  the  Duke  of  Castiglione. 

—  The  Grand  Duchess  of  Tuscany. — The  chase  at  Ranibouillet. —  The 
Emperor's  skill.  — Talma.  —  Their  Majesties'  departure  from  Strasbourg. 

—  The  Emperor  passes  the  Rhine. — The  Battle  of  Ratisbonne.  —  The 
Emperor  wounded. — Much  alarm  in  the  army. — The  Emperor's  endu- 
rance. —  The  papers  advised  to  be  silent.  —  Orders  of  the  Emperor  before 
each  battle.  —  A  Bavarian  family  saved  by  Constant.  —  The  Emperor's 
vexation. — M.  Pfister  becomes  insane. — The  Emperor's  anxiety.  —  Con- 
spiracy against  the  Emperor.  —  A  million  in  diamonds. — Insult  to  the 
bearer  of  a  flag  of  truce.  —  The  Emperor's  moderation.  —  Letter  of  the 
Prince  de  Neuchatel  to  the  Archduke  Maximilian.  —  Bombardment  of 
Vienna. — The  life  of  Marie  Louise  protected  by  the  Emperor. — Flight 
of  the  Archduke  Maximilian,  and  the  taking  of  Vienna.  —  Stupidity  of 
the  Austrians. 

The  Emperor  arrived  at  Paris  on  the  23d  of  January, 
and.  passed  the  remainder  of  the  winter  there,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  days  spent  at  Rambouillet  and  Saint- 
Cloud. 

On  the  very  day  of  Ins  arrival  in  Paris,  although  he 
must  have  been  much  fatigued  by  an  almost  uninterrupted 
ride  from  Valladolid,  the  Emperor  visited  the  buildings  of 
the  Louvre  and  the  rue  de  Rivoli. 

His  mind  was  full  of  what  he  had  seen  at  Madrid,  and 


158  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

repeated  suggestions  to  M.  Fontaine  and  the  other  archi- 
tects showed  plainly  his  desire  to  make  the  Louvre  the 
finest  palace  in  the  world.  His  Majesty  then  had  a  report 
made  him  as  to  the  chateau  of  Chambord,  which  he  wished 
to  present  to  the  Prince  of  Neuchatel.  M.  Fontaine  found 
that  repairs  sufficient  to  make  this  place  a  comfortable  res- 
idence would  amount  to  1,700,000  francs,  as  the  build- 
ings were  in  a  state  of  decay,  and  it  had  hardly  been 
touched  since  the  death  of  Marshal  Saxe. 

His  Majesty  passed  the  two  months  and  a  half  of  his 
stay  working  in  his  cabinet,  which  he  rarely  left,  and 
always  unwillingly ;  his  amusements  being,  as  always,  the 
theater  and  concerts.  He  loved  music  passionately,  espe- 
cially Italian  music,  and  like  all  great  amateurs  was  hard 
to  please.  He  would  have  much  liked  to  sing  had  he  been 
able,  but  he  had  no  voice,  though  this  did  not  prevent  his 
humming  now  and  then  pieces  which  struck  his  fancy;  and 
as  these  little  reminiscences  usually  recurred  to  hini  in  the 
mornings,  he  regaled  me  with  them  while  he  was  being 
dressed.  The  air  that  I  have  heard  him  thus  mutilate  most 
frequently  was  that  of  The  Marseillaise.  The  Emperor  also 
whistled  sometimes,  but  very  rarely;  and  the  air,  Malbrook 
s'en  va-t-en  guerre,1  whistled  by  his  Majesty  was  an  unerr- 
ing announcement  to  me  of  his  approaching  departure  for 
the  army.  I  remember  that  he  never  whistled  so  much, 
and  was  never  so  gay,  as  just  before  he  set  out  for  the 
Russian  campaign. 

His  Majesty's  favorite  singers  were  Crescentini 2  and  Ma- 

1  The  Emperor  is  said  to  have  hummed  this  air  as  he  crossed  the  Nie- 
men.  —  Tkans. 

2  Girolamo  Crescentini,  born  at  Urbania,  1769  ;  died  1846.  In  1809  Napo- 
leon appointed  him  first  singer  at  his  court.  —  Tbans. 


CRESCENTINI.  159 

dame  Grassini.  I  saw  Crescentini's  debut  at  Paris  in  the 
role  of  Romeo,  in  Romeo  and  Juliet.  He  came  preceded 
by  a  reputation  as  the  first  singer  of  Italy ;  and  this  repu- 
tation was  found  to  be  well  deserved,  notwithstanding  all 
the  prejudices  he  had  to  overcome,  for  I  remember  well 
the  disparaging  statements  made  concerning  him  before 
his  debut  at  the  court  theater.  According  to  these  self- 
appointed  connoisseurs,  he  was  a  bawler  without  taste, 
without  method,  a  maker  of  absurd  trills,  an  unimpassioned 
actor  of  little  intelligence,  and  many  other  things  besides. 
He  knew,  when  he  appeared  on  the  stage,  how  little  dis- 
posed in  his  favor  his  audience  were,  yet  he  showed  not 
the  slightest  embarrassment;  this,  and  his  noble,  dignified 
mien,  agreeably  surprised  those  who  expected  from  what 
they  had  been  told  to  behold  an  awkward  man  with  an 
ungainly  figure.  A  murmur  of  approbation  ran  through 
the  hall  on  his  appearance ;  and  electrified  by  this  welcome, 
he  gained  all  hearts  from  the  first  act.  His  movements 
were  full  of  grace  and  dignity ;  he  had  a  perfect  knowledge 
of  the  scene,  modest  gestures  perfectly  in  harmony  with  the 
dialogue,  and  a  countenance  on  which  all  shades  of  passion 
were  depicted  with  the  most  astonishing  accuracy;  and  all 
these  rare  and  precious  qualities  combined  to  give  to  the 
enchanting  accents  of  this  artist  a  charm  of  which  it  is 
impossible  to  give  an  idea. 

At  each  scene  the  interest  he  inspired  became  more 
marked,  until  in  the  third  act  the  emotion  and  delisrht  of 
the  spectators  were  carried  almost  to  frenzy.  In  this  act, 
played  almost  solely  by  Crescentini,  this  admirable  singer 
communicated  to  the  hearts  of  his  audience  all  that  is 
touching  and   pathetic   in  a  love   expressed  by  means  of 


160  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

delicious  melody,  and  by  all  that  grief  and  despair  can  find 
sublime  in  song. 

The  Emperor  was  enraptured,  and  sent  Crescehtini  a 
considerable  compensation,  accompanied  by  most  flattering 
testimonials  of  the  pleasure  he  had  felt  in  hearing  him. 

On  this  day,  as  always  when  they  played  together 
afterwards,  Crescentini  was  admirably  supported  by  Ma- 
dame Grassini,  a  woman  of  superior  talent,  and  who  pos- 
sessed the  most  astonishing  voice  ever  heard  in  the  theater. 
She  and  Madame  Barilli  then  divided  the  admiration  of 
the  public. 

The  very  evening  or  the  day  after  the  debut  of  Cres- 
centini, the  French  stage  suffered  an  irreparable  loss  in 
the  death  of  Dazincourt,  only  sixty  years  of  age.  The 
illness  of  which  he  died  had  begun  on  his  return  from  Er- 
furt, and  was  long  and  painful ;  and  yet  the  public,  to  whom 
this  great  comedian  had  so  long  given  such  pleasure,  took 
no  notice  of  him  after  it  was  found  his  sickness  was  in- 
curable and  his  death  certain.  Formerly  when  a  highly 
esteemed  actor  was  kept  from  his  place  for  some  time  by 
illness  (and  who  deserved  more  esteem  than  Dazincourt  ?  ), 
the  pit  was  accustomed  to  testify  its  regret  by  inquiring 
every  day  as  to  the  condition  of  the  afflicted  one,  and  at  the 
end  of  each  representation  the  actor  whose  duty  it  was  to 
announce  the  play  for  the  next  day  gave  the  audience  news 
of  his  comrade.  This  was  not  done  for  Dazincourt,  and 
the  pit  thus  showed  ingratitude  to  him. 

I  liked  and  esteemed  sincerely  Dazincourt,  whose  ac- 
quaintance I  had  made  several  years  before  his  death ;  and 
few  men  better  deserved  or  so  well  knew  how  to  gain  es- 
teem and  affection.     I  will  not  speak  of  his  genius,  which 


BAZIN  COURT.  161 

rendered  him  a  worthy  successor  of  Preville,1  whose  pupil 
and  friend  he  was,  for  all  his  contemporaries  remember 
Figaro  as  played  by  Dazincourt;  but  I  will  speak  of  the 
nobility  of  his  character,  of  his  generosity,  and  his  well- 
tested  honor.  It  would  seem  that  his  birth  and  education 
should  have  kept  him  from  the  theater,  where  circum- 
stances alone  placed  him ;  but  he  was  able  to  protect  him- 
self against  the  seductions  of  his  situation,  and  in  the  green- 
room, and  in  the  midst  of  domestic  intrigues,  remained  a 
man  of  good  character  and  pure  manners.  He  was  wel- 
comed in  the  best  society,  where  he  soon  became  a  favorite 
by  his  piquant  sallies,  as  much  as  by  liis  good  manners  and 
urbanity,  for  he  amused  without  reminding  that  he  was  a 
comedian. 

At  the  end  of  February  his  Majesty  went  to  stay 
for  some  time  at  the  palace  of  the  Elysee ;  and  there  I 
think  was  signed  the  marriage  contract  of  one  of  his  best 
lieutenants,  Marshal  Augereau,  recently  made  Duke  of 
Castiglione,  with  Mademoiselle  Bourlon  de  Chavanges,  the 
daughter  of  an  old  superior  officer;  and  there  also  was 
rendered  the  imperial  decree  which  gave  to  the  Princess 
Eliza  the  grand  duchy  of  Tuscany,  with  the  titlo  of  grand 
duchess. 

About  the  middle  of  March,  the  Emperor  passed  several 
days  at  Rambouillet ;  there  were  held  some  exciting  hunts, 
in  one  of  which  his  Majesty  himself  brought  to  bay  and 
killed  a  stag  near  the  pool  of  Saint-Hubert.  There  was  also 
a  ball  and  concert,  in  which  appeared  Crescentini,  Mesdanies 
Grassini,  Barelli,  and  several  celebrated  virtuosos,  and  lastly 
Talma  recited. 

1  Pierre  Louis  Pre'ville,  a  popular  French  comic  actor,  born  in  Paris,  1721  ; 
died  1799.  —  Trans. 


162  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
the  Emperor  having  received  news  of  another  invasion  of 
Bavaria  by  the  Austrians,  set  out  for  Strasburg  with  the 
Empress,  whom  he  left  in  that  city;  and  on  the  15th,  at 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  he  passed  the  Rhine  at  the 
head  of  his  army.  The  Empress  did  not  long  remain  alone, 
as  the  Queen  of  Holland  and  her  sons,  the  Grand  Duchess 
of  Baden  and  her  husband,  soon  joined  her. 

The  splendid  campaign  of  1809  at  once  began.  It  is 
known  how  glorious  it  was,  and  that  one  of  its  least  glorious 
victories  was  the  capture  of  Vienna. 

At  Ratisbon,  on  the  23d  of  April,  the  Emperor  received 
in  his  right  foot  a  spent  ball,  which  gave  him  quite  a  severe 
bruise.  I  was  with  the  service  when  several  grenadiers 
hastened  to  tell  me  that  his  Majesty  was  wounded,  upon 
which  I  hastened  to  him,  and  arrived  while  M.  Yvan  was 
dressing  the  contusion.  The  Emperor's  boot  was  cut  open, 
and  laced  up,  and  he  remounted  his  horse  immediately ;  and, 
though  several  of  the  generals  insisted  on  his  resting,  he 
only  replied  :  "  My  friends,  do  you  not  know  that  it  is 
necessary  for  me  to  see  everything  ?  "  The  enthusiasm  of 
the  soldiers  cannot  be  expressed  when  they  learned  that 
their  chief  had  been  wounded,  though  his  wound  was  not 
dangerous.  "  The  Emperor  is  exposed  like  us,"  they  said ; 
"he  is  not  a  coward,  not  he."  The  papers  did  not  mention 
this  occurrence. 

Before  entering  a  battle,  the  Emperor  always  ordered 
that,  in  case  he  was  wounded,  every  possible  measure 
should  be  taken  to  conceal  it  from  his  troops.  "Who 
knows,"  said  he,  "what  terrible  confusion  might  be  pro- 
duced by  such  news?      To  my  life  is  attached  the  des- 


AT  EATISBON.  163 

tiny  of  a  great  Empire.  Remember  this,  gentlemen ;  and 
if  I  am  wounded,  let  no  one  know  it,  if  possible.  If  I 
am  slain,  try  to  win  the  battle  without  me ;  there  will  be 
time  enough  to  tell  it  afterwards." 

Two  weeks  after  the  capture  of  Ratisbon,  I  was  in 
advance  of  his  Majesty  on  the  road  to  Vienna,  alone  in  a 
carriage  with  an  officer  of  the  household,  when  we  sud- 
denly heard  frightful  screams  in  a  house  on  the  edge  of 
the  road.  I  gave  orders  to  stop  at  once,  and  we  alighted ; 
and,  on  entering  the  house,  found  several  soldiers,  or  rather 
stragglers,  as  there  are  in  all  armies,  who,  paying  no  atten- 
tion to  the  alliance  between  France  and  Bavaria,  were  treat- 
ing most  cruelly  a  family  which  lived  in  this  house,  and 
consisted  of  an  old  grandmother,  a  young  man,  three  chil- 
dren, and  a  young  girl. 

Our  embroidered  coats  had  a  happy  effect  on  these  mad- 
men, whom  we  threatened  with  the  Emperor's  anger ;  and 
we  succeeded  in  driving  them  out  of  the  house,  and  soon 
after  took  our  departure,  overwhelmed  with  thanks.  In  the 
evening  I  spoke  to  the  Emperor  of  what  I  had  done ;  and 
he  approved  highly,  saying,  "It  cannot  be  helped.  There 
are  always  some  cowardly  fellows  in  the  army ;  and  they  are 
the  ones  who  do  the  mischief.  A  brave  and  good  soldier 
would  blush  to  do  such  things !  " 

I  had  occasion,  in  the  beginning  of  these  Memoirs,  to 
speak  of  the  steward,  M.  Piister,  one  of  his  Majesty's  most 
faithful  servants,  and  also  one  of  those  to  whom  his  Majesty 
was  most  attached.  M.  Pfister  had  followed  him  to  Egypt, 
and  had  faced  countless  dangers  in  his  service.  The  day 
of  the  battle  of  Landshut,  which  either  preceded  or  fol- 
lowed very  closely  the  taking  of  Ratisbon  this  poor  rnaa 


164  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

became  insane,  rushed  out  of  his  tent,  and  concealed  himself 
in  a  wood  near  the  field  of  battle,  after  taking  off  all  his 
clothing.  At  the  end  of  a  few  hours  his  Majesty  asked  for 
M.  Pfister.  He  was  sought  for,  and  every  one  was  ques- 
tioned; but  no  one  could  tell  what  had  become  of  him. 
The  Emperor,  fearing  that  he  might  have  been  taken 
prisoner,  sent  an  orderly  officer  to  the  Austrians  to  recover 
his  steward,  and  propose  an  exchange;  but  the  officer  re- 
turned, saying  that  the  Austrians  had  not  seen  M.  Pfister. 
The  Emperor,  much  disquieted,  ordered  a  search  to  be 
made  in  the  neighborhood;  and  by  this  means  the  poor 
fellow  was  discovered  entirely  naked,  as  I  have  said,  cow- 
ering behind  a  tree,  in  a  frightful  condition,  his  body  torn 
by  thorns.  He  was  brought  back,  and  having  become 
perfectly  quiet,  was  thought  to  be  well,  and  resumed  his 
duties ;  but  a  short  time  after  our  return  to  Paris  he  had 
a  new  attack.  The  character  of  his  malady  was  exceed- 
ingly obscene ;  and  he  presented  himself  before  the  Em- 
press Josephine  in  such  a  state  of  disorder,  and  with  such 
indecent  gestures,  that  it  was  necessary  to  take  precautions 
in  regard  to  him.  He  was  confided  to  the  care  of  the  wise 
Doctor  Esquirol,  who,  in  spite  of  his  great  skill,  could  not 
effect  a  cure.  I  went  to  see  him  often.  He  had  no  more 
violent  attacks ;  but  his  brain  was  diseased,  and  though  he 
heard  and  understood  perfectly,  his  replies  were  those  of 
a  real  madman.  He  nevef  lost  his  devotion  to  the  Em- 
peror, spoke  of  him  incessantly,  and  imagined  himself  on 
duty  near  him.  One  day  he  told  me  with  a  most  myste- 
rious air  that  he  wished  to  confide  to  me  a  terrible  secret, 
the  plot  of  a  conspiracy  against  his  Majesty's  life,  hand> 
inc  me  at  the  same  time  a  note  for  his  Majesty,  with  a 


CAP  TUBE  OF  VIENNA.  165 

package  of  about  twenty  scraps  of  paper,  which  he  had 
scribbled  off  himself,  and  thought  were  the  details  of  the 
plot.  Another  time  he  handed  me,  for  the  Emperor,  a 
handful  of  little  stones,  which  he  called  diamonds  of  great 
value.  "  There  is  more  than  a  million  in  what  I  hand 
you,"  said  he.  The  Emperor,  whom  I  told  of  my  visits, 
was  exceedingly  touched  by  the  continued  monomania  of 
this  poor  unfortunate,  whose  every  thought,  every  act, 
related  to  his  old  master,  and  who  died  without  regaining 
his  reason. 

On  the  10th  of  May,  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the 
first  line  of  defense  of  the  Austrian  capital  was  attacked 
and  taken  by  Marshal  Oudinot ;  1  the  faubourgs  surrender- 
ing at  discretion.  The  Duke  of  Montebello  then  advanced 
on  the  esplanade  at  the  head  of  his  division ;  but  the  gates 
having  been  closed,  the  garrison  poured  a  frightful  dis- 
charge from  the  top  of  the  ramparts,  which  fortunately 
however  killed  only  a  very  small  number.  The  Duke  of 
Montebello  summoned  the  garrison  to  surrender  the  town, 
but  the  response  of  the  Archduke  Maximilian  was  that 
he  would  defend  Vienna  with  his  last  breath;  which  reply 
was  conveyed  to  the  Emperor. 

After  taking  counsel  with  his  generals,  his  Majesty 
charged  Colonel  Lagrange  to  bear  a  new  demand  to  the 
archduke ;  but  the  poor  colonel  had  hardly  entered  the 
town  than  he  was  attacked  by  the  infuriated  populace. 
General  O'Reilly  saved  his  life  by  having  him  carried  away 
by  his  soldiers  :  but  the  Archduke  Maximilian,  in  order  to 
defy  the  Emperor  still  further,  paraded  in  triumph  in  the 

1  Oudinot  was  not  made  a  marshal  till  the  battle  of  Wagram,  a  few  weeks 
iter.  —  Trans. 


166  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

midst  of  the  national  guard  the  individual  who  haa  struck 
the  first  blow  at  the  bearer  of  the  French  summons.  This 
attempt,  which  had  excited  the  indignation  of  many  of  the 
Viennese  themselves,  did  not  change  his  Majesty's  inten- 
tions, as  he  wished  to  carry  his  moderation  and  kindness 
as  far  as  possible ;  and  he  wrote  to  the  archduke  by  the 
Prince  of  Neuchatel  the  following  letter,  a  copy  of  which 
accidentally  fell  into  my  hands :  — 

"  The  Prince  de  Neuchatel  to  his  Highness  the  Archduke  Maximil- 
ian,1 commanding  the  town  of  Vienna,  — 

"  His  Majesty  the  Emperor  and  King  desires  to  spare  this  large  and 
worthy  population  the  calamities  with  which  it  is  threatened,  and 
charges  me  to  represent  to  your  Highness,  that  if  he  continues  the 
attempt  to  defend  this  place,  it  will  cause  the  destruction  of  one  of 
the  finest  cities  of  Europe.  In  every  country  where  he  has  waged 
war,  my  sovereign  has  manifested  his  anxiety  to  avoid  the  disasters 
winch  armies  bring  on  the  population.  Your  Highness  must  be  per- 
suaded that  his  Majesty  is  much  grieved  to  see  this  town,  which  he 
has  the  glory  of  having  already  saved,  on  the  point  of  being  destroyed. 
Nevertheless,  contrary  to  the  established  usage  of  fortresses,  your  High- 
ness has  fired  your  cannon  from  the  city  walls,  and  these  cannon  may 
kill,  not  an  enemy  of  your  sovereign,  but  the  wives  or  children  of  his 
most  devoted  servants.  If  your  Highness  prolongs  the  attempt  to 
defend  the  place,  his  Majesty  will  be  compelled  to  begin  his  prepara- 
tions for  attack ;  and  the  ruin  of  this  immense  capital  will  be  consum- 
mated in  thirty-six  hours,  by  the  shells  and  bombs  from  our  batteries, 
as  the  outskirts  of  the  town  will  be  destroyed  by  the  effect  of  yours. 
His  Majesty  does  not  doubt  that  these  considerations  will  influence 
your  Highness  to  renounce  a  determination  which  will  only  delay  for 
a  short  while  the  capture  of  the  place.  H,  however,  your  Highness 
has  decided  not  to  pursue  a  course  which  will  save  the  town  from 
destruction,  its  population  plunged  by  your  fault  into  such  terrible 
misfortunes  will  become,  instead  of  faithful  subjects,  the  enemies  of 
your  house." 

1  Brother  of  the  Emperor  of  Austria.  —  Trans. 


CAPTURE  OF  VIENNA.  107 

This  letter  did  not  deter  the  grand  duke  from  persist- 
ing in  his  defense ;  and  this  obstinacy  exasperated  the 
Emperor  to  such  a  degree  that  he  at  last  gave  orders  to 
place  two  batteries  in  position,  and  within  an  hour  camion- 
balls  and  shells  rained  upon  the  town.  The  inhabitants, 
with  true  German  indifference,  assembled  on  the  hillsides 
to  watch  the  effect  of  the  fires  of  attack  and  defense,  and 
appeared  much  interested  in  the  sight.  A  few  cannon- 
balls  had  already  fallen  in  the  court  of  the  Imperial  palace 
when  a  flag  of  truce  came  out  of  the  town  to  announce 
that  the  Archduchess  Marie  Louise  had  been  unable  to 
accompany  her  father,  and  was  ill  in  the  palace,  and  con- 
sequently exposed  to  danger  from  the  artillery;  and  the 
Emperor  immediately  gave  orders  to  change  the  direction 
of  the  firing  so  that  the  bombs  and  balls  would  pass  over 
the  palace.  The  archduke  did  not  long  hold  out  against 
such  a  sharp  and  energetic  attack,  but  fled,  abandoning 
Vienna  to  the  conquerors. 

On  the  12th  of  May  the  Emperor  made  his  entrance 
into  Vienna,  one  month  after  the  occupation  of  Munich  by 
the  Austrians.  This  circumstance  made  a  deep  impression, 
and  did  much  to  foster  the  superstitious  ideas  which  many 
of  the  troops  held  in  regard  to  the  person  of  their  chief. 
"See,"  said  one,  "he  needed  only  the  time  necessary  for 
the  journey.  That  man  must  be  a  god."  —  "  He  is  a  devil 
rather,"  said  the  Austrians,  whose  stupefaction  was  inde- 
scribable. They  had  reached  a  point  when  many  allowed 
the  arms  to  be  taken  out  of  their  hands  without  making 
the  least  resistance,  or  without  even  attempting  to  fly,  so 
deep  was  their  conviction  that  the  Emperor  and  his  guard 
were  not  men,  and  that  sooner  or  later  they  must  fall  into 
the  power  of  these  supernatural  enemies. 


168  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

the  Emperor  at  Schoenbrunn.  —Description  of  this  residence.  —  The  Em- 
peror's apartments.  — Inconvenience  of  the  stoves.  — The  winged  chariot 
of  Maria  Theresa.  —  The  parks  of  Versailles,  Malmaison,  and  Schoen- 
brunn.—  The  Gloriette. — The  ruins.  —  The  menagerie  and  kiosk  of 
Maria  Theresa.  —  Reviews  held  by  the  Emperor.  —  Manner  in  which  the 
Emperor'made  promotions.  —  Gratuities  paid  by  the  Emperor.  — An  act 
of  heroism. — Kindness  of  the  Emperor.  —  A  visit  with  bags,  account 
books,  and  arms.  —  Unexpected  orders.  —  A  young  officer's  self-possession. 
—  "Wagons  inspected  by  the  Emperor. 

The  Emperor  did  not  remain  in  Vienna,  but  established 
his  headquarters  at  the  chateau  of  Schoenbrunn,  an  imperial 
residence  situated  about  half  a  league  from  the  town ;  and 
the  ground  in  front  of  the  chateau  was  arranged  for  the 
encampment  of  the  guard.  The  chateau  of  Schoenbrunn, 
erected  by  the  Empress  Maria  Theresa  in  1754,  and  situ- 
ated in  a  commanding  position,  is  built  in  a  very  irregular, 
and  defective,  but  at  the  same  time  majestic,  style  of  archi- 
tecture. In  order  to  reach  it,  there  has  been  thrown  over 
the  little  river,  la  Vienne,  a  broad  and  well-constructed 
bridge,  ornamented  with  four  stone  sphinxes ;  and  in  front 
of  the  bridge  is  a  large  iron  gate,  opening  on  an  immense 
court,  in  which  seven  or  eight  thousand  men  could  be 
drilled.  This  court  is  square,  surrounded  by  covered  gal- 
leries, and  ornamented  with  two  large  basins  with  marble 
statues;  and  on  each  side  of  the  gateway  are  two  large 
obelisks  in  rose-colored  stone,  surmounted  by  eagles  of 
gilded  lead. 


SCHOENBR  UNN.  1 G  9 

Schoenbrunn,  in  German,  signifies  beautiful  fountain ; 1 
and  this  name  comes  from  a  clear  and  limpid  spring,  which 
rises  in  a  grove  in  the  park,  on  a  slight  elevation,  around 
which  has  been  built  a  little  pavilion,  carved  on  the  inside 
to  imitate  stalactites.  In  this  pavilion  lies  a  sleeping 
Naiad,  holding  in  her  hand  a  shell,  from  which  the  water 
gushes  and  falls  into  a  marble  basin.  This  is  a  delicious 
retreat  in  summer. 

We  can  speak  only  in  terms  of  admiration  regarding 
the  interior  of  the  palace,  the  furniture  of  winch  was 
handsome  and  of  an  original  and  elegant  style.  The  Em- 
peror's sleeping-room,  the  only  part  of  the  building  in 
which  there  was  a  fireplace,  was  ornamented  with  wain- 
scoting in  Chinese  lacquer  work,  then  very  old,  though  the 
painting  and  gilding  were  still  fresh,  and  the  cabinet  was 
decorated  like  the  bedroom ;  and  all  the  apartments,  except 
this,  were  warmed  in  winter  by  immense  stoves,  which 
greatly  injured  the  effect  of  the  interior  architecture.  Be- 
tween the  study  and  the  Emperor's  room  was  a  very  curi- 
ous machine,  called  the  flifiit;!  <-Iniriot,  a  land  of  mechanical 
contrivance,  which  had  been  made  for  the  Empress  Maria 
Theresa,  and  was  used  in  conveying  her  from  one  story  to 
the  other,  so  that  she  might  not  be  obliged  to  ascend  and 
descend  staircases  like  the  rest  of  the  world.  This  machine 
was  operated  by  means  of  cords,  pulleys,  and  weights,  like 
those  at  the  theater.2 

The  beautiful  grove  which  serves  as  park  and  garden 
to  the  palace  of  Schoenbrunn  is  much  too  small  to  belong 

1  It  is  the  equivalent  of  the  French  Fontainebleau;  i.e.,  Fontaine-belle- 
eau.  —  Trans. 

-  This  Dovelty  of  that  clay  is  simply  the  elevator  now  seen  in  every  hotel. 
— Trans. 


170  BECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

to  an  imperial  residence ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  would 
be  hard  to  find  one  more  beautiful  or  better  arranged. 
The  park  of  Versailles  is  grander  and  more  imposing;  but 
it  has  not  the  picturesque  irregularity,  the  fantastic  and 
unexpected  beauties,  of  the  park  of  Schoenbrunn,  and 
more  closely  resembles  the  park  at  Malmaison.  In  front 
of  the  interior  facade  of  the  palace  was  a  magnificent  lawn, 
sloping  down  to  a  broad  lake,  decorated  with  a  group  of 
statuary  representing  the  triumph  of  Neptune.  This  group 
is  very  fine ;  but  French  amateurs  (every  Frenchman,  as 
you  are  aware,  desires  to  be  considered  a  connoisseur) 
insisted  that  the  women  were  more  Austrian  than  Grecian, 
and  that  they  did  not  possess  the  slender  grace  belonging 
to  antique  forms ;  and,  for  my  part,  I  must  confess  that 
these  statues  did  not  appear  to  me  very  remarkable. 

At  the  end  of  the  grand  avenue,  and  bounding  the 
horizon,  rose  a  hill,  which  overlooked  the  park,  and  was 
crowned  by  a  handsome  building,  which  bore  the  name  of 
la  Grloriette.  This  building  was  a  circular  gallery,  inclosed 
with  glass,  supported  by  a  charming  colonnade,  between 
the  arches  of  which  hung  various  trophies.  On  entering 
the  avenue  from  the  direction  of  Vienna,  la  Grloriette  rose 
at  the  farther  end,  seeming  almost  to  form  a  part  of  the 
palace ;  and  the  effect  was  very  fine. 

What  the  Austrians  especially  admired  in  the  palace 
of  Schoenbrunn  was  a  grove,  containing  what  they  called 
the  Ruins,  and  a  lake  with  a  fountain  springing  from  the 
midst,  and  several  small  cascades  flowing  from  it ;  by  this 
lake  were  the  ruins  of  an  aqueduct  and  a  temple,  fallen 
vases,  tombs,  broken  bas-reliefs,  statues  without  heads,  arms, 
or  limbs,  while  limbs,  arms,  and  heads  lay  thickly  scattered 


SCHOENBR  UNN.  171 

around;  columns  mutilated  and  half-buried,  others  stand- 
ing and  supporting  the  remains  of  pediments  and  entabla- 
tures ;  all  combining  to  form  a  scene  of  beautiful  disorder, 
and  representing  a  genuine  ancient  ruin  when  viewed  from 
a  short  distance.  Viewed  more  closely,  it  is  quite  another 
thing :  the  hand  of  the  modern  sculptor  is  seen ;  it  is  evi- 
dent that  all  these  fragments  are  made  from  the  same  kind 
of  stone ;  and  the  weeds  which  grow  in  the  hollows  of  these 
columns  appear  what  they  really  are,  that  is  to  say,  made 
of  stone,  and  painted  to  imitate  verdure. 

But  if  the  productions  of  art  scattered  through  the 
park  of  Schoenbrunn  were  not  all  irreproachable,  those  of 
nature  fully  made  up  the  deficiency.  What  magnificent 
trees  !  What  thick  hedges !  What  dense  and  refreshing 
shade !  The  avenues  were  remarkably  high  and  broad, 
and  bordered  with  trees,  which  formed  a  vault  impene- 
trable to  the  sun,  while  the  eye  lost  itself  in  their  many 
windings ;  from  these  other  smaller  walks  diverged,  where 
fresh  surprises  were  in  store  at  every  step.  At  the  end  of 
the  broadest  of  these  was  placed  the  menagerie,  which  was 
one  of  the  most  extensive  and  varied  in  Europe,  and  its 
construction,  which  was  very  ingenious,  might  well  serve 
as  a  model;  it  was  shaped  like  a  star,  and  in  the  round 
center  of  this  star  had  been  erected  a  small  but  very  ele- 
gant kiosk,  placed  there  by  the  Empress  Maria  Theresa 
as  a  resting-place  for  herself,  and  from  which  the  whole 
menagerie  could  be  viewed  at  leisure. 

Each  point  of  this  star  formed  a  separate  garden,  where 
there  could  be  seen  elephants,  buffaloes,  camels,  drome- 
daries, stags,  and  kangaroos  grazing;  handsome  and  sub- 
stantial cages  held   tigers,   bears,   leopards,   lions,   hyenas, 


172  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

etc. ;  and  swans  and  rare  aquatic  birds  and  amphibious 
animals  sported  in  basins  surrounded  by  iron  gratings.  In 
this  menagerie  I  specially  remarked  a  very  extraordinary 
animal,  which  his  Majesty  had  ordered  brought  to  France, 
but  which  had  died  the  day  before  it  was  to  have  started. 
This  animal  was  from  Poland,  and  was  called  a  curus;  it 
was  a  kind  of  ox,  though  much  larger  than  an  ordinary 
ox,  with  a  mane  like  a  lion,  horns  rather  short  and  some- 
what curved,  and  enormously  large  at  the  base. 

Every  morning,  at  six  o'clock,  the  drums  beat,  and  two 
or  three  hours  after  the  troops  were  ordered  to  parade  in  the 
court  of  honor;  and  at  precisely  ten  o'clock  his  Majesty 
descended,  and  put  himself  at  the  head  of  his  generals. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  an  idea  of  these  parades,  which 
in  no  particular  resembled  reviews  in  Paris.  The  Emperor, 
during  these  reviews,  investigated  the  smallest  details,  and 
examined  the  soldiers  one  by  one,  so  to  speak,  looked  into 
the  eyes  of  each  to  see  whether  there  was  pleasure  or  work 
in  his  head,  questioned  the  officers,  sometimes  also  the  sol- 
diers themselves ;  and  it  was  usually  on  these  occasions  that 
the  Emperor  made  his  promotions.  During  one  of  these 
reviews,  if  he  asked  a  colonel  who  was  the  bravest  officer 
in  his  regiment,  there  was  no  hesitation  in  his  answer;  and 
it  was  always  prompt,  for  he  knew  that  the  Emperor  was 
already  well  informed  on  this  point.  After  the  colonel 
had  replied,  he  addressed  himself  to  all  the  other  officers, 
saying,  "  Who  is  the  bravest  among  you  ?  "  —  "  Sire,  it  is 
such  an  one ;  "  and  the  two  answers  were  almost  always  the 
same.  "  Then,"  said  the  Emperor,  "I  make  him  a  baron; 
and  I  reward  in  him,  not  only  his  own  personal  bravery, 
but  that  of  the  corps  of  which  he  forms  a  part.     He  does 


REVIEWS  AT  SCUOENBRUNN.  173 

not  owe  this  favor  to  me  alone,  but  also  to  the  esteem  of 
his  comrades."  It  was  the  same  case  with  the  soldiers  ;  and 
those  most  distinguished  for  courage  or  good  conduct  were 
promoted  or  received  rewards,  and  sometimes  pensions,  the 
Emperor  giving  one  of  twelve  hundred  francs  to  a  soldier, 
who,  on  his  first  campaign,  had  passed  through  the  enemy's 
squadron,  bearing  on  his  shoulders  his  wounded  general, 
protecting  him  as  he  would  his  own  father. 

On  these  reviews  the  Emperor  could  be  seen  personally 
inspecting  the  haversacks  of  the  soldiers,  examining  their 
certificates,  or  taking  a  gun  from  the  shoulders  of  a  young 
man  who  was  weak,  pale,  and  suffering,  and  saying  to  him, 
in  a  sympathetic  tone,  "  That  is  too  heavy  for  you."  He 
often  drilled  them  himself ;  and  when  he  did  not,  the  drill- 
ing was  directed  by  Generals  Dorsenne,  Curial,  or  Mouton.1 
Sometimes  he  was  seized  with  a  sudden  whim  ;  for  ex- 
ample, one  morning,  after  reviewing  a  regiment  of  the 
Confederation,  he  turned  to  the  ordnance  officers,  and  ad- 
dressing Prince  Salm,  who  was  among  them,  remarked  : 
"  M.  de  Salm,  the  soldiers  ought  to  get  acquainted  with 
you  ;  approach,  and  order  them  to  make  a  charge  in  twelve 
movements."  The  young  prince  turned  crimson,  without 
being  disconcerted,  however,  bowed,  and  drawing  his  sword 
most  gracefully,  executed  the  orders  of  the  Emperor  with 
an  ease  and  precision  which  charmed  liim. 

Another  day,  as  the  engineer  corps  passed  with  about 
forty  wagons,  the  Emperor  cried,  "Halt!  "  and  pointing  out 
a  wagon  to  General  Bertrand,  ordered  him  to  summon  one 

1  George  Mouton,  Count  de  Lobau,  born  at  Pfalzburg,  1770;  entered  tbe 
army,  1792;  aide-de-camp  to  Joubert  1798,  and  to  Napoleon  1805;  general  of 
division,  1807;  created  Count  do  Lobau,  1809.  Taken  prisoner  at  Waterloo, 
where  be  commanded  an  army  corps.     Marshal,  1831,  died  1S38.  —  Trans. 


174  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

of  the  officers.  "  What  does  that  wagon  contain?  "  —  "  Sire, 
bolts,  bags  of  nails,  ropes,  hatchets,  and  saws."  —  "How 
much  of  each  ?  "  The  officer  gave  the  exact  account.  His 
Majesty,  to  verify  this  report,  had  the  wagon  emptied, 
counted  the  pieces,  and  found  the  number  correct ;  and  in 
order  to  assure  himself  that  nothing  was  left  in  the  wagon, 
climbed  up  into  it  by  means  of  the  wheel,  holding  on  to 
the  spokes.  There  was  a  murmur  of  approbation  and  cries 
of  joy  all  along  the  line.  "  Bravo !  "  they  said ;  "  well  and 
good!  that  is  the  way  to  make  sure  of  not  being  deceived." 
All  these  things  conspired  to  make  the  soldiers  adore  the 
Emperor. 


FEtutnw  STABS.  175 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

Attempt  against  the  life  of  Napoleon.  —  Happy  sagacity  of  General  Rapp. 

—  Arrest  of  Fre'de'ric  Stabs. — The  fanatical  student.  —  Incredible  per- 
severance. —  The  Duke  of  Rovigo  at  the  residence  of  the  Emperor.  — 
Stabs  questioned  by  the  Emperor.  —  The  Emperor's  pity.  — Immobility 
of  Stabs.  —  Stabs  and  M.  Corvisart. — Pardon  twice  offered  and  refused. 

—  Emotion  of  his  Majesty.  —  Condemnation  of  Stabs.  —  Fasting  four 
days.  —  Last  words  of  Stabs. 

At  one  of  the  reviews  which  I  have  just  described,  and 
which  usually  attracted  a  crowd  of  curious  people  from 
Vienna  and  its  suburbs,  the  Emperor  came  near  being  as- 
sassinated. It  was  on  the  13th  of  October,  his  Majesty- 
had  just  alighted  from  his  horse,  and  was  crossing  the  court 
on  foot  with  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel  and  General  Rapp  be- 
side him,  when  a  young  man  with  a  passably  good  coun- 
tenance pushed  his  way  rudely  through  the  crowd,  and 
asked  in  bad  French  if  he  could  speak  to  the  Emperor. 
His  Majesty  received  him  kindly,  but  not  understanding 
his  language,  asked  General  Rapp  to  see  what  the  young 
man  wanted,  and  the  general  asked  him  a  few  questions ; 
and  not  satisfied  apparently  with  his  answers,  ordered  the 
police-officer  on  duty  to  remove  him.  A  sub-officer  con- 
ducted the  young  man  out  of  the  circle  formed  by  the  staff, 
and  drove  him  back  into  the  crowd.  This  circumstance 
had  been  forgotten,  when  suddenly  the  Emperor,  on  turn- 
ing, found  again  near  him  the  pretended  suppliant,  who 
had   returned  holding  his   right  hand  in  his  breast,  as  if 


176  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

to  draw  a  petition  from  the  pocket  of  his  coat.  General 
Rapp  seized  the  man  by  the  arm,  and  said  to  him,  "  Mon- 
sieur, you  have  already  been  ordered  away;  what  do  you 
want?'-  As  he  was  about  to  retire  a  second  time  the  gen- 
eral, thinking  his  appearance  suspicious,  gave  orders  to  the 
police-officer  to  arrest  him,  and  he  accordingly  made  a  sign 
to  his  subalterns.  One  of  them  seizing  him  by  the  collar 
shook  him  slightly,  when  his  coat  became  partly  unbut- 
toned, and  something  fell  out  resembling  a  package  of 
papers ;  on  examination  it  was  found  to  be  a  large  carving- 
knife,  with  several  folds  of  gray  paper  wrapped  around  it 
as  a  sheath  ;  thereupon  he  was  conducted  to  General  Savary. 

This  young  man  was  a  student,  and  the  son  of  a  Protes- 
tant minister  of  Naumbourg ;  he  was  called  Frederic  Stabs, 
and  was  about  eighteen  or  nineteen  years  old,  with  a  pal- 
lid face  and  effeminate  features.  He  did  not  deny  for  an 
instant  that  it  was  his  intention  to  kill  the  Emperor ;  but 
on  the  contrary  boasted  of  it,  and  expressed  his  intense  re- 
gret that  circumstances  had  prevented  the  accomplishment 
of  his  design. 

He  had  left  his  father's  house  on  a  horse  which  the 
want  of  money  had  compelled  him  to  sell  on  the  way,  and 
none  of  his  relatives  or  friends  had  any  knowledge  of  his 
plan.  The  day  after  his  departure  he  had  written  to  his 
father  that  he  need  not  be  anxious  about  him  nor  the  horse ; 
that  he  had  long  since  promised  some  one  to  visit  Vienna, 
and  his  family  would  soon  hear  of  him  with  pride.  He 
had  arrived  at  Vienna  only  two  days  before,  and  had  occu- 
pied himself  first  in  obtaining  information  as  to  the  Em- 
peror's habits,  and  finding  that  he  held  a  review  every 
morning  in  the  court  of  the  chateau,  had  been  there  once 


FREDERIC  STABS.  177 

in  order  to  acquaint  himself  with  the  locality.  The  next 
day  he  had  undertaken  to  make  the  attack,  and  had  been 
arrested. 

The  Duke  of  Rovigo,  after  questioning  Stabs,  sought 
the  Emperor,  who  had  returned  to  his  apartments,  and 
acquainted  him  with  the  danger  he  had  just  escaped. 
The  Emperor  at  first  shrugged  his  shoulders,  but  having 
been  shown  the  knife  which  had  been  taken  from  Stabs, 
said,  "  Ah,  ha !  send  for  the  young  man ;  I  should  like  very- 
much  to  talk  with  him."  The  duke  went  out,  and  returned 
in  a  few  moments  with  Stabs.  When  the  latter  entered, 
the  Emperor  made  a  gesture  of  pity,  and  said  to  the  Prince 
de  Neuchatel,  "  Why,  really,  he  is  nothing  more  than  a 
child!  "  An  interpreter  was  summoned  and  the  interroga- 
tion begun. 

His  Majesty  first  asked  the  assassin  if  he  had  seen  him 
anywhere  before  this.  "Yes;  I  saw  you,*'  replied  Stabbs, 
"at  Erfurt  last  year."  —  "  It  seems  that  a  crime  is  nothing 
in  your  eyes.  Why  did  you  wish  to  kill  me  ?  "  —  "To  kill 
you  is  not  a  crime ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  the  duty  of  every 
good  German.  I  wished  to  kill  you  because  you  are  the 
oppressor  of  Germany."  —  "  It  is  not  I  who  commenced  the 
war;  it  is  your  nation.  Whose  picture  is  this?"  (the  Em- 
peror held  in  his  hands  the  picture  of  a  woman  that  had 
been  found  on  Stabs).  "It  is  that  of  my  best  friend,  my 
father's  adopted  daughter."  —  "What!  and  you  are  an 
assassin!  and  have  no  fear  of  afflicting  and  destroying 
beings  who  are  so  dear  to  you?"  —  "I  wished  to  do  my 
duty,  and  nothing  could  have  deterred  me  from  it."  —  "  But 
how  would  you  have  succeeded  in  striking  me  ? "  —  "I 
would   first   have   asked    you    if    we   were   soon   to   have 


178  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

peace  ;  and  if  you  had  answered  no,  I  should  have  stabbed 
you." — "He  is  mad!"  said  the  Emperor;  "he  is  evi- 
dently mad !  And  how  could  you  have  hoped  to  escape, 
after  you  had  struck  me  thus  in  the  midst  of  my  soldiers  ? 

—  "I  knew  well  to  what  I  was  exposing  myself,  and  am 
astonished  to  be  still  alive."  This  boldness  made  such  a 
deep  impression  on  the  Emperor  that  he  remained  silent 
for  several  moments,  intently  regarding  Stabs,  who  remained 
entirely  unmoved  under  this  scrutiny.  Then  the  Emperor 
continued,  "  The  one  you  love  will  be  much  distressed." 

—  "  Oh,  she  will  no  doubt  be  distressed  because  I  did  not 
succeed,  for  she  hates  you  at  least  as  much  as  I  hate  you 
myself."  —  "  Suppose  I  pardoned  you  ?  "  —  "  You  would  be 
wrong,  for  I  would  again  try  to  kill  you."  The  Emperor 
summoned  M.  Corvisart  and  said  to  him,  "  This  young  man 
is  either  sick  or  insane,  it  cannot  be  otherwise."  —  "I  am 
neither  the  one  nor  the  other,"  replied  the  assassin  quickly. 
M.  Corvisart  felt  Stabs's  pulse.  "  This  gentleman  is  well," 
he  said.  "I  have  already  told  you  so,"  replied  Stabs  with 
a  triumphant  air.  "Well,  doctor,"  said  his  Majesty,  "this 
young  man  who  is  in  such  good  health  has  traveled  a 
hundred  miles  to  assassinate  me." 

Notwithstanding  this  declaration  of  the  physician  and 
the  avowal  of  Stabs,  the  Emperor,  touched  by  the  coolness 
and  assurance  of  the  unfortunate  fellow,  again  offered  him 
his  pardon,  upon  the  sole  condition  of  expressing  some  re- 
pentance for  his  crime ;  but  as  Stabs  again  asserted  that 
his  only  regret  was  that  he  had  not  succeeded  in  his 
undertaking,  the  Emperor  reluctantly  gave  him  up  to  pun- 
ishment. 

After  he  was  conducted  to  prison,  as  he  still  persisted 


DEATH   OF  STABS.  179 

in  his  assertions,  he  was  immediately  brought  before  a 
military  commission,  which  condemned  him  to  death.  He 
did  not  undergo  his  punishment  till  the  17th ;  and  after 
the  13  th,  the  day  on  which  he  was  arrested,  took  no 
food,  saying  that  he  would  have  strength  enough  to  go  to 
his  death.  The  Emperor  had  ordered  that  the  execution 
should  be  delayed  as  long  as  possible,  in  the  hope  that 
sooner  or  later  Stabs  would  repent;  but  he  remained  un- 
shaken. As  he  was  being  conducted  to  the  place  where  he 
was  to  be  shot,  some  one  having  told  him  that  peace  had 
just  been  concluded,  he  cried  in  a  loud  voice,  "  Long  live 
liberty !  Long  live  Germany !  "  These  were  his  last 
words. 


180  BECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

Gallant  adventures  of  the  Emperor  at  Schoenbrunn.  —  Promenade  on  the 
Prater.  —  Exclamation  of  a  young  German  widow.  — The  Emperor's  con- 
descension.—  Rapid  conquest. — Madame follows    the    Emperor   to 

Bavaria.  —  Her  death  at  Paris.  —  The  young  enthusiast.  —  Propositions 
ardently  received.  —  A  young  girl  endowed  by  his  Majesty. — The  Em- 
peror's supper.  — Roustan's  hunger.  — Demand  thoughtlessly  granted. — 
Constant's  embarrassment.  —  The  ruse  discovered. — The  Emperor  sup- 
ping on  what  Roustan  had  left. 

During  his  stay  at  Schoenbrunn  the  Emperor  was  con- 
stantly engaged  in  gallant  adventures.  He  was  one  day 
promenading  on  the  Prater  in  Vienna,  with  a  very  numer- 
ous suite  (the  Prater  is  a  handsome  promenade  situated  in 
the  Faubourg  Leopold),  when  a  young  German,  widow  of 
a  rich  merchant,  saw  him,  and  exclaimed  involuntarily  to 
the  ladies  promenading  with  her,  "It  is  he  !  "  This  excla- 
mation was  overheard  by  his  Majesty,  who  stopped  short, 
and  bowed  to  the  ladies  with  a  smile,  while  the  one  who 
had  spoken  blushed  crimson;  the  Emperor  comprehended 
this  unequivocal  sign,  looked  at  her  steadfastly,  and  then 
continued  his  walk. 

For  sovereigns  there  are  neither  long  attacks  nor  great 
difficulties,  and  this  new  conquest  of  his  Majesty  was  not 
less  rapid  than  the  others.     In  order  not  to  be  separated 

from  her  illustrious   lover,  Madame  B followed    the 

army  to  Bavaria,  and  afterwards  came  to  him  at  Paris, 
where  she  died  in  1812. 

His  Majesty's    attention  was  attracted  by  a  charming 


AT  SCOHENBBUNN.  181 

young  person  one  morning  in  the  suburbs  of  Schoenbrunn ; 
and  some  one  was  ordered  to  see  this  young  lady,  and 
arrange  for  a  rendezvous  at  the  chateau  the  following  even- 
ing. Fortune  favored  his  Majesty  on  this  occasion.  The 
eclat  of  so  illustrious  a  name,  and  the  renown  of  his  vic- 
tories, had  produced  a  deep  impression  on  the  mind  of  the 
young  girl,  and  had  disposed  her  to  listen  favorably  to  the 
propositions  made  to  her.  She  therefore  eagerly  consented 
to  meet  him  at  the  chateau ;  and  at  the  appointed  hour  the 
person  of  whom  I  have  spoken  came  for  her,  and  I  received 
her  on  her  arrival,  and  introduced  her  to  his  Majesty.  She 
did  not  speak  French,  but  she  knew  Italian  well,  and  it 
was  consequently  easy  for  the  Emperor  to  converse  with 
her ;  and  he  soon  learned  with  astonishment  that  this 
charming  young  lady  belonged  to  a  very  honorable  family 
of  Vienna,  and  that  in  coming  to  him  that  evening  she 
was  inspired  alone  by  a  desire  to  express  to  him  her  sin- 
cere admiration.  The  Emperor  respected  the  innocence  of 
the  young  girl,  had  her  reconducted  to  her  parents'  resi- 
dence, and  gave  orders  that  a  marriage  should  be  arranged 
for  her,  and  that  it  should  be  rendered  more  advantageous 
by  means  of  a  considerable  dowry. 

At  Schoenbrunn,  as  at  Paris,  his  Majesty  dined  habitu- 
ally at  six  o'clock ;  but  since  he  worked  sometimes  veiy  far 
into  the  night,  care  was  taken  to  prepare  every  evening  a 
light  supper,  which  was  placed  in  a  little  locked  basket 
covered  with  oil-cloth.  There  were  two  keys  to  this  bas- 
ket, one  of  which  the  steward  kept,  and  I  the  other.  The 
care  of  this  basket  belonged  to  me  alone ;  and  as  his 
Majesty  was  extremely  busy,  he  hardly  ever  asked  for 
supper.     One  evening  Roustan,  who  had  been  busily  occu- 


182  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

pied  all  day  in  his  master's  service,  was  in  a  little  room 
next  to  the  Emperor's,  and  meeting  me  just  after  I  had 
assisted  in  putting  his  Majesty  to  bed,  said  to  me  in  his 
bad  French,  looking  at  the  basket  with  an  envious  eye, 
"  I  could  eat  a  chicken  wing  myself ;  I  am  very  hungry." 
I  refused  at  first ;  but  finally,  as  I  knew  that  the  Emperor 
had  gone  to  bed,  and  had  no  idea  he  would  take  a  fancy 
to  ask  me  for  supper  that  evening,  I  let  Roustan  have  it. 
He,  much  delighted,  began  with  a  leg,  and  next  took  a 
wing ;  and  I  do  not  know  if  any  of  the  chicken  would  have 
been  left  had  I  not  suddenly  heard  the  bell  ring  sharply. 
I  entered  the  room,  and  was  shocked  to  hear  the  Emperor 
say  to  me,  "  Constant,  my  chicken."  My  embarrassment 
may  be  imagined.  I  had  no  other  chicken;  and  by  what 
means,  at  such  an  hour,  could  I  procure  one !  At  last  I 
decided  what  to  do.  It  was  best  to  cut  up  the  fowl,  as 
thus  I  would  be  able  to  conceal  the  absence  of  the  two 
limbs  Roustan  had  eaten;  so  I  entered  proudly  with  the 
chicken  replaced  on  the  dish,  Roustan  following  me,  for 
I  was  very  willing,  if  there  were  any  reproaches,  to  share 
them  with  him.  I  picked  up  the  remaining  wing,  and 
presented  it  to  the  Emperor;  but  he  refused  it,  saying  to 
me,  "Give  me  the  chicken;  I  will  choose  for  myself." 
This  time  there  was  no  means  of  saving  ourselves,  for 
the  dismembered  chicken  must  pass  under  his  Majesty's 
eyes.  "See  here,"  said  he,  "since  when  did  chickens 
begin  to  have  only  one  wing  and  one  leg?  That  is  fine; 
it  seems  that  I  must  eat  what  others  leave.  Who,  then, 
eats  half  of  my  supper?"  I  looked  at  Roustan,  who  in 
confusion  replied,  "  I  was  very  hungry,  Sire,  and  I  ate  a 
wing  and  leg."  —  "  What,  you  idiot !  so  it  was  you,  was  it? 


ROUSTAN  EATS    THE  EMPEROR'S   SUPPER.        183 

All,  I  will  punish  you  for  it."     And  without  another  word 
the  Emperor  ate  the  remaining  leg  and  wing. 

The  next  day  at  his  toilet  he  summoned  the  grand 
marshal  for  some  purpose,  and  during  the  conversation 
said,  "  I  leave  you  to  guess  what  I  ate  last  night  for  my 
supper.  The  scraps  which  M.  Roustan  left.  Yes,  the 
wretch  took  a  notion  to  eat  half  of  my  chicken."  Roustan 
entered  at  that  moment.  "  Come  here,  you  idiot,"  con- 
tinued the  Emperor;  "and  the  next  time  this  happens,  he 
sure  you  will  pay  for  it."  Saying  this,  he  seized  him  by 
the  ears  and  laughed  heartily. 


184  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

The  battle  of  Essling.  —  Controversy  between  two  friends  of  the  Emperor.  — 

Aversion  of  the  Duke  of  Montebello  to  the  Duke  of .  —  Rudeness  of 

the  Duke  of  Montebello.  — His  bitterness  on  the  occasion  of  the  plague 
at  Jaffa. — Presentiments  of  Marshal  Lannes. — A  fatal  mischance. — 
Marshal  Lannes  struck  by  a  cannon-ball.  —  The  Emperor's  grief.  —  The 
Emperor  on  his  knees  before  the  marshal.  — Heroic  courage  of  Marshal 
Lannes.  —  His  death  caused,  perhaps,  by  a  fast  of  twenty-four  hours. — 
The  Emperor's  affliction.  — Tears  of  the  old  grenadiers.  —Last  words  of 
the  marshal.  —  The  corpse  embalmed.  —  A  horrible  spectacle.  —  Courage 
of  physicians  in  the  army.  —  Grief  of  the  Duchess  of  Montebello. — 
Thoughtlessness  of  the  Emperor.  —  The  Duchess  of  Montebello  wishes 
to  quit  the  service  of  the  Empress. 

On  the  22d  of  May,  ten  days  after  the  triumphant 
entry  of  the  Emperor  into  the  Austrian  capital,  the  battle 
of  Essling  took  place,  a  bloody  combat  lasting  from  four 
in  the  morning  till  six  in  the  evening.  This  battle  was 
sadly  memorable  to  all  the  old  soldiers  of  the  Empire, 
since  it  cost  the  life  of  perhaps  the  bravest  of  them  all, 
—  the  Duke  of  Montebello,  the  devoted  friend  of  the 
Emperor,  the  only  one  who  shared  with  Marshal  Augereau 
the  right  to  speak  to  him  frankly  face  to  face. 

The  evening  before  the  battle  the  marshal  entered  his 
Majesty's  residence,  and  found  him  surrounded  by  several 

persons.     The    Duke    of always  undertook   to    place 

himself  between  the  Emperor  and  persons  who  wished  to 
speak  with  him.  The  Duke  of  Montebello,  seeing  him  play 
his  usual  game,  took  him  by  the  lappel  of  his  coat,  and, 
wheeling  him  around,  said  to  him  :    "  Take  yourself  away 


BATTLE  OF  ES  SLING.  185 

from  here !  The  Emperor  does  not  need  you  to  stand 
guard.  It  is  singular  that  on  the  field  of  battle  you  are 
always  so  far  from  us  that  we  cannot  see  you,  while  here 
we  can  say  nothing  to  the  Emperor  without  your  being  in 
the  way."  The  duke  was  furious.  He  looked  first  at  the 
marshal,  then  at  the  Emperor,  who  simply  said,  "  Gently 
Lannes." 

That  evening  in  the  domestic  apartments  they  were 
discussing  this  apostrophe  of  the  marshal's.  An  officer  of 
the  army  of  Egypt  said  that  he  was  not  surprised,  since  the 

Duke  of  Montebello  had  never  forgiven  the  Duke  of 

for  the  three  hundred  sick  persons  poisoned  at  Jaffa. 

Dr.  Lannefranque,  one  of  those  who  attended  the 
unfortunate  Duke  of  Montebello,  said  that  as  he  was 
mounting  his  horse  on  starting  to  the  island  of  Lobau,  the 
duke  was  possessed  by  gloomy  presentiments.  He  paused 
a  moment,  took  M.  Lannefranque 's  hand,  and  pressed  it, 
saying  to  him  with  a  sad  smile,  "  Au  revoir  ;  you  will  soon 
see  us  again,  perhaps.  There  will  be  work  for  you  and 
for  those  gentlemen  to-day,'1  pointing  to  several  surgeons 
and  doctors  standing  near.  "  M.  le  Due,"  replied  Lanne- 
franque, "  this  day  will  add  yet  more  to  your  glory."  — 
"My  glory,"  interrupted  the  marshal  eagerly;  "-do  you 
wish  me  to  speak  frankly?  I  do  not  approve  very  highly 
of  this  affair;  and,  moreover,  whatever  may  be  the  issue, 
this  will  be  nry  last  battle."  The  doctor  wished  to  ask 
the  marshal  his  reasons  for  this  conviction ;  but  he  set  off 
at  a  gallop,  and  was  soon  out  of  sight. 

On  the  morning  of  the  battle,  about  six  or  seven  o'clock, 
the  Austrians  had  already  advanced,  when  an  aide-de-camp 
came  to  announce  to  his  Majesty  that  a  sudden  rise  in  the 


186  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Danube  had  washed  down  a  great  number  of  large  trees 
which  had  been  cut  down  when  Vienna  was  taken,  and  that 
these  trees  had  driven  against  and  broken  the  bridges  which 
served  as  communication  between  Essling  and  the  island 
of  Lobau;  and  in  consequence  of  this  the  reserve  corps, 
part  of  the  heavy  cavalry,  and  Marshal  Davoust's  entire 
corps,  found  themselves  forced  to  remain  inactive  on  the 
other  side.  This  misfortune  arrested  the  movement  which 
the  Emperor  was  preparing  to  make,  and  the  enemy  took 
courage. 

The  Duke  of  Montebello  received  orders  to  hold  the 
field  of  battle,  and  took  his  position,  resting  on  the  vil- 
lage of  Essling,  instead  of  continuing  the  pursuit  of  the 
Austrians  which  he  had  already  begun,  and  held  this 
position  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  the  even- 
ing; and  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  battle  was 
gained.  At  six  o'clock  the  unfortunate  marshal,  while 
standing  on  an  elevation  to  obtain  a  better  view  of  the 
movements,  was  struck  by  a  cannon-ball,  which  broke  his 
right  thigh  and  his  left  knee. 

He  thought  at  first  that  he  had  only  a  few  moments  to 
live,  and  had  himself  carried  on  a  litter  to  the  Emperor, 
saying  that  he  wished  to  embrace  him  before  he  died.  The 
Emperor,  seeing  him  thus  weltering  in  his  blood,  had  the 
litter  placed  on  the  ground,  and,  throwing  himself  on  his 
knees,  took  the  marshal  in  his  arms,  and  said  to  him,  weep- 
ing, "Lannes,  do  you  know  me?" — "Yes,  Sire;  you  are 
losing  your  best  friend." —  "No!  no  !  you  will  live.  Can 
you  not  answer  for  his  life,  M.  Larrey?"  The  wounded 
soldiers  hearing  his  Majesty  speak  thus,  tried  to  rise  on 
their  elbows,  and  cried,  "  Vive  VJEmpereur!" 


DEATH  OF  LANNES.  187 

The  surgeons  carried  the  marshal  to  a  little  village 
called  Ebersdorf,  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  near  the 
field  of  battle.  At  the  house  of  a  brewer  they  found  a 
room  over  a  stable  where  the  heat  was  stifling,  and  was 
rendered  still  more  unendurable  from  the  odor  of  the 
corpses  by  which  the  house  was  surrounded. 

But  as  no  other  place  could  be  found,  it  was  necessary 
to  make  the  best  of  it.  The  marshal  bore  the  amputation 
of  his  limb  with  heroic  courage  ;  but  the  fever  which  came 
on  immediately  was  so  violent  that,  fearing  he  would  die 
under  the  operation,  the  surgeons  postponed  cutting  off  his 
other  leg.  This  fever  was  caused  partly  by  exhaustion, 
for  at  the  time  he  was  wounded  the  marshal  had  eaten 
nothing  for  twenty-four  hours.  Finally  Messieurs  Larrey,1 
Yvan,  Paulet,  and  Lannefranque  decided  on  the  second 
amputation ;  and  after  this  had  been  performed  the  quiet 
condition  of  the  wounded  man  made  them  hopeful  of  sav- 
ing his  life.  But  it  was  not  to  be.  The  fever  increased, 
and  became  of  a  most  alarming  character ;  and  in  spite  of 
the  attentions  of  these  skillful  surgeons,  and  of  Doctor 
Frank,  then  the  most  celebrated  physician  in  Europe,  the 
marshal  breathed  his  last  on  the  31st  of  May,  at  five  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  barely  forty  years  of  age. 

During  his  week  of  agony  (for  his  sufferings  may  be 
called  by  that  name)  the  Emperor  came  often  to  see  him, 
and  always  left  in  deep  distress.  I  also  went  to  see  the 
marshal  each  day  for  the  Emperor,  and  admired  the 
patience  with  which  he  endured  these  sufferings,  although 

1  Baron  Dominique  Jean  Larrey,  eminent  surgeon,  born  at  Bagneres-de- 
Bigorre,  17(56.  Accompanied  Napoleon  to  Egypt.  Surgeon-in-chief  of  the 
grand  army,  1812.  Wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Waterloo.  In  his  will  the 
Emperor  styles  him  the  best  man  he  had  ever  known.    Died  1842.  —  Trans. 


188  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

he  had  no  hope ;  for  he  knew  well  that  he  was  dying,  and 
saw  these  sad  tidings  reflected  in  every  face.  It  was 
touching  and  terrible  to  see  around  his  house,  his  door,  in 
his  chamber  even,  these  old  grenadiers  of  the  guard,  always 
stolid  and  unmoved  till  now,  weeping  and  sobbing  like 
children.  What  an  atrocious  thing  war  seems  at  such 
moments  ! 

The  evening  before  his  death  the  marshal  said  to  me, 
"  I  see  well,  my  dear  Constant,  that  I  must  die.  I  wish 
that  your  master  could  have  ever  near  him  men  as  devoted 
as  I.  Tell  the  Emperor  I  would  like  to  see  him."  As  I 
was  going  out  the  Emperor  entered,  a  deep  silence  ensued, 
and  every  one  retired ;  but  the  door  of  the  room  being  half 
open  we  could  hear  a  part  of  the  conversation,  which  was 
long  and  painful.  The  marshal  recalled  his  services  to  the 
Emperor,  and  ended  with  these  words,  pronounced  in  tones 
still  strong  and  firm:  "I  do  not  say  this  to  interest  you  in 
my  family ;  I  do  not  need  to  recommend  to  you  my  wife 
and  children.  Since  I  die  for  you,  your  glory  will  bid  you 
protect  them ;  and  I  do  not  fear  in  addressing  you  these 
last  words,  dictated  by  sincere  affection,  to  change  your 
plans  towards  them.  You  have  just  made  a  great  mis- 
take, and  although  it  deprives  you  of  your  best  friend  you 
will  not  correct  it.  Your  ambition  is  insatiable,  and  will 
destroy  you.  You  sacrifice  unsparingly  and  unnecessarily 
those  men  who  serve  you  best ;  and  when  they  fall  you  do 
not  regret  them.  You  have  around  you  only  flatterers ;  I 
see  no  friend  who  dares  to  tell  you  the  truth.  You  will  be 
betrayed  and  abandoned.  Hasten  to  end  this  war;  it  is 
the  general  wish.  You  will  never  be  more  powerful,  but 
you  may  be  more  beloved.  Pardon  these  truths  in  a  dying 
man  —  who,  dying,  loves  you." 


DEATH  OF  L ANNE 8.  189 

The  marshal,  as  he  finished,  held  out  his  hand  to  the 
Emperor,  who  embraced  him,  weeping,  and  in  silence. 

The  day  of  the  marshal's  death  his  body  was  given  to 
M.  Larrey  and  M.  Cadet  de  Gassicourt,1  ordinary  chemist 
to  the  Emperor,  with  orders  to  preserve  it,  as  that  of  Col- 
onel Morland  had  been,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Austerlitz.  For  this  purpose  the  corpse  was  carried  to 
Schoenbrunn,  and  placed  in  the  left  wing  of  the  chateau, 
far  from  the  inhabited  rooms.  In  a  few  hours  putrefaction 
became  complete,  and  they  were  obliged  to  plunge  the 
mutilated  body  into  a  bath  filled  with  corrosive  sublimate. 
This  extremely  dangerous  operation  was  long  and  painful ; 
and  M.  Cadet  de  Gassicourt  deserves  much  commendation 
for  the  courage  he  displayed  under  these  circumstances  ; 
for  notwithstanding  every  precaution,  and  in  spite  of  the 
strong  disinfectants  burned  in  the  room,  the  odor  of  this 
corpse  was  so  fetid,  and  the  vapor  from  the  sublimate  so 
strong,  that  the  distinguished  chemist  was  seriously  in- 
disposed. 

Like  several  other  persons,  I  had  a  sad  curiosity  to  see 
the  marshal's  body  in  this  condition.  It  was  frightful. 
The  trunk,  which  had  been  covered  by  the  solution,  was 
greatly  swollen ;  while  on  the  contrary,  the  head,  which 
had  been  left  outside  the  bath,  had  shrunk  remarkably, 
and  the  muscles  of  the  face  had  contracted  in  the  most 
hideous  manner,  the  wide-open  eyes  starting  out  of  their 
sockets.  After  the  body  had  remained  eight  days  in  the 
corrosive  sublimate,  which  it  was  necessary  to  renew,  since 
the  emanations  from  the  interior  of  the  corpse  had  decom- 

1  Charles  Louis  Cadet  de  Gassicourt,  born  in  Paris,  17G9,  pharmacist, 
lawyer,  and  author.     Died  L821.  —Trans. 


190  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAfOLEON. 

posed  the  solution,  it  was  put  into  a  cask  made  for  the 
purpose,  and  filled  with  the  same  liquid ;  and  it  was  in 
this  cask  that  it  was  carried  from  Schoenbrunn  to  Stras- 
burg.  In  this  last  place  it  was  taken  out  of  the  strange 
coffin,  dried  in  a  net,  and  wrapped  in  the  Egyptian  style ; 
that  is,  surrounded  with  bandages,  with  the  face  uncovered. 
M.  Larrey  and  M.  de  Gassicourt  confided  this  honorable  task 
to  M.  Fortin,  a  young  chemist  major,  who  in  1807  had  by  his 
indefatigable  courage  and  perseverance  saved  from  certain 
death  nine  hundred  sick,  abandoned,  without  physicians  or 
surgeons,  in  a  hospital  near  Dantzic,  and  nearly  all  suffering 
from  an  infectious  malady.  In  the  month  of  March,  1810 
(what  follows  is  an  extract  from  the  letter  of  M.  Fortin  to 
his  master  and  friend  M.  Cadet  de  Gassicourt),  the  Duchess 
of  Montebello,  in  passing  through  Strasburg,  wished  to  see 
again  the  husband  she  loved  so  tenderly. 

"  Thanks  to  you  and  M.  Larrey  (it  is  M.  Fortin  who 
speaks),  the  embalming  of  the  marshal  has  succeeded  per- 
fectly. When  I  drew  the  body  from  the  cask  I  found  it  in 
a  state  of  perfect  preservation.  I  arranged  a  net  in  a 
lower  hall  of  the  mayor's  residence,  in  which  I  dried  it 
by  means  of  a  stove,  the  heat  being  carefully  regulated. 
I  then  had  a  very  handsome  coffin  made  of  hard  wood  well 
oiled ;  and  the  marshal  wrapped  in  bandages,  his  face  un- 
covered, was  placed  in  an  open  coffin  near  that  of  Gen- 
eral Saint-Hilaire  in  a  subterranean  vault,  of  which  I  have 
the  key.  A  sentinel  watches  there  day  and  night.  M. 
Wangen  de  Gueroldseck,  mayor  of  Strasburg,  has  given 
me  every  assistance  in  my  work. 

"  This  was  the  state  of  affairs  when,  an  hour  after  her 
Majesty  the   Empress's  arrival,   Madame,   the  Duchess  of 


THE  DUCHESS   OF  MONTEBELLO.  191 

Montebello,  who  accompanied  her  as  lady  of  honor,  sent 
M.  Cretu,  her  cousin  at  whose  house  she  was  to  visit,  to 
seek  me.  I  came  in  answer  to  her  orders  ;  and  the  duchess 
questioned  and  complimented  me  on  the  honorable  mission 
with  which  I  was  charged,  and  then  expressed  to  me,  with 
much  agitation,  her  desire  to  see  for  the  last  time  the  body 
of  her  husband.  I  hesitated  a  few  moments  before  answer- 
ing her,  and  foreseeing  the  effect  which  would  be  pro- 
duced on  her  by  the  sad  spectacle,  told  her  that  the  orders 
which  I  had  received  would  prevent  my  doing  what  she 
wished ;  but  she  insisted  in  such  a  pressing  manner  that 
I  yielded.  We  agreed  (in  order  not  to  compromise  me, 
and  that  she  might  not  be  recognized)  that  I  would  go  for 
her  at  midnight,  and  that  she  would  be  accompanied  by  one 
of  her  relatives. 

"I  went  to  the  duchess  at  the  appointed  hour;  and  as 
soon  as  I  arrived,  she  rose  and  said  that  she  was  ready 
to  accompany  me.  I  waited  a  few  moments,  begging  her 
to  consider  the  matter  well.  I  warned  her  of  the  condition 
in  which  she  would  find  the  marshal,  and  begged  her  to 
reflect  on  the  impression  she  would  receive  in  the  sad  place 
she  was  about  to  visit.  She  replied  that  she  was  well  pre- 
pared  for  this,  and  felt  that  she  had  the  necessary  courage, 
and  she  hoped  to  find  in  this  last  visit  some  amelioration  of 
the  bitter  sorrow  she  endured.  While  speaking  thus,  her 
sad  and  beautiful  countenance  was  calm  and  pensive.  We 
then  started,  M.  Cretu  giving  his  arm  to  his  cousin.  The 
duchess's  carriage  followed  at  a  distance,  empty ;  and  two 
servants  followed  us. 

"  The  city  was  illuminated ;  and  the  good  inhabitants 
were  all  taking  holiday,  and  in  many  houses  gay  music 


192  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

was  inspiriting  them  to  the  celebration  of  this  memorable 
day.  What  a  contrast  between  this  gayety  and  the  quest 
in  which  we  were  engaged !  I  saw  that  the  steps  of  the 
duchess  dragged  now  and  then,  while  she  sighed  and  shud- 
dered; and  my  own  heart  seemed  oppressed,  my  ideas 
confused. 

"At  last  we  arrived  at  the  mayor's  residence,  where 
Madame  de  Montebello  gave  her  servants  orders  to  await 
her,  and  descended  slowly,  accompanied  by  her  cousin  and 
myself,  to  the  door  of  the  lower  hall.  A  lantern  lighted 
our  way,  and  the  duchess  trembled  while  she  affected  a 
sort  of  bravery;  but  when  she  entered  a  sort  of  cavern, 
the  silence  of  the  dead  which  reigned  in  this  subterranean 
vault,  the  mournful  light  which  filled  it,  the  sight  of  the 
corpse  extended  in  its  coffin,  produced  a  terrible  effect  on 
her ;  she  gave  a  piercing  scream,  and  fainted.  I  had  fore- 
seen this,  and  had  watched  her  attentively ;  and  as  soon  as 
I  saw  her  strength  failing,  supported  her  in  my  arms  and 
seated  her,  having  in  readiness  everything  necessary  to  re- 
store her.  I  used  these  remedies,  and  she  revived  at  the 
end  of  a  few  moments ;  and  we  then  begged  her  to  with- 
draw, but  she  refused ;  then  rose,  approached  the  coffin, 
and  walked  around  it  slowly  in  silence  ;  then  stopping  and 
letting  her  folded  hands  fall  by  her  side,  she  remained  for 
some  time  immovable,  regarding  the  inanimate  figure  of 
her  husband,  and  watering  it  with  her  tears.  At  last  she 
in  a  measure  regained  her  self-control,  and  exclaimed  in 
stifled  tones  through  her  sobs,  '  Mon  Dieu,  mon  Dieu ! 
how  he  is  changed!'  I  made  a  sign  to  M.  Cretu  that  it 
was  time  to  retire ;  but  we  could  drag  the  duchess  away 
only  by  promising  her  to  bring  her  back  next  day,  —  a 


THE  DUCHESS   OF  MONTEBELLO.  193 

promise  which  could  not  be  kept.  I  closed  the  door 
quickly,  and  gave  my  arm  to  the  duchess,  which  she  grate- 
fully accepted.  When  we  left  the  mayoralty  I  took  leave 
of  her ;  but  she  insisted  on  my  entering  her  carriage,  and 
gave  orders  to  carry  me  to  my  residence.  In  this  short 
ride  she  shed  a  torrent  of  tears ;  and  when  the  carriage 
stopped,  said  to  me  with  inexpressible  kindness,  '  I  shall 
never  forget,  Monsieur,  the  important  service  you  have 
just  rendered  me.'  " 

Long  after  this  the  Emperor  and  Empress  Marie  Louise 
visited  together  the  manufacture  of  Sevres  porcelain,  and 
the  Duchess  of  Montebello  accompanied  the  Empress  as 
lady  of  honor.  The  Emperor,  seeing  a  fine  bust  of  the 
marshal,  in  bisque,  exquisitely  made,  paused,  and,  not  no- 
ticing the  pallor  which  overspread  the  countenance  of  the 
duchess,  asked  her  what  she  thought  of  this  bust,  and  if  it 
was  a  good  likeness.  The  widow  felt  as  if  her  old  wound 
was  reopened;  she  could  not  reply,  and  retired,  bathed  in 
tears,  and  it  was  several  days  before  she  reappeared  at 
court.  Apart  from  the  fact  that  this  unexpected  question 
renewed  her  grief,  the  inconceivable  thoughtlessness  the 
Emperor  had  shown  wounded  her  so  deeply  that  her 
friends  had  much  difficulty  in  persuading  her  to  resume 
her  duties  near  the  Empress. 


194  RECOLLECTIONS    OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

Disasters  of  the  battle  of  Essling.  — Murmurs  of  the  soldiers.  —  Addresses  to 
the  generals.  —  Courageous  patience.  —  Bravery  of  Marshal  Massena.  — 
Continued  happiness. — Zeal  of  the  army  surgeons. — A  word  from  the 
Emperor. — M.  Larrey.  —  Horse-soup.  —  Soup  made  in  their  helmets. — 
Fortitude  of  the  wounded.  —  Suicide  of  a  cannoneer.  —  The  old  German 
doorkeeper.  —  Princess  Lichtenstein.  —  Good  fare  and  dry  linen.  —  Insult- 
ing letter  to  the  Princess  Lichtenstein.  —  The  Emperor  furious.  —  The 
Emperor's  filial  piety.  —  Kindness  of  Princess  Lichtenstein.  —  Pardon 
granted  by  the  Emperor. — M.  Larrey's  remonstrances.  —  Two  anecdotes 
about  this  celebrated  surgeon. 

The  battle  of  Essling  was  disastrous  in  every  respect. 
Twelve  thousand  Frenchmen  were  slain ;  and  the  source  of 
all  this  trouble  was  the  destruction  of  the  bridges,  which 
could  have  been  prevented,  it  seems  to  me,  for  the  same 
accident  had  occurred  two  or  three  days  before  the  battle. 
The  soldiers  complained  loudly,  and  several  corps  of  the 
infantry  cried  out  to  the  generals  to  dismount  and  fight 
in  their  midst;  but  this  ill  humor  in  no  wise  affected 
their  courage  or  patience,  for  regiments  remained  five 
hours  under  arms,  exposed  to  the  most  terrible  fire. 
Three  times  during  the  evening  the  Emperor  sent  to  in- 
quire of  General  Massena  if  he  could  hold  his  position ; 
and  the  brave  captain,  who  that  day  saw  his  son  on  the 
field  of  battle  for  the  first  time,  and  his  friends  and 
his  bravest  officers  falling  by  dozens  around  him,  held  it 
till  night  closed  in.  "I  will  not  fall  back,"  said  he, 
"while    there   is    light.     Those  rascally  Austrians  would 


BRAVERY  OF  MASSENA.  195 

be  too  glad."  The  constancy  of  the  marshal  saved  the 
day;  but,  as  he  himself  said,  he  was  always  blessed  with 
good  luck.  In  the  beginning  of  the  battle,  seeing  that 
one  of  his  stirrups  was  too  long,  he  called  a  soldier  to 
shorten  it,  and  during  this  operation  placed  his  leg  on  his 
horse's  neck ;  a  cannon-ball  whizzed  by,  killed  the  soldier, 
and  cut  off  the  stirrup,  without  touching  the  marshal  or 
his  horse.  "  There,"  said  he,  "  now  I  shall  have  to  get 
down  and  change  my  saddle ;  "  which  observation  the 
marshal  made  in  a  jesting  tone. 

The  surgeon  and  his  assistants  conducted  themselves 
admirably  on  this  terrible  day,  and  displayed  a  zeal  equal 
to  every  emergency,  combined  with  an  activity  which  de- 
lighted the  Emperor  so  much,  that  several  times,  in  pass- 
ing near  them,  he  called  them  "my  brave  surgeons."  M. 
Larrey  above  all  was  sublime.  After  having  attended  to 
all  the  wounded  of  the  guard,  who  were  crowded  together 
on  the  Island  of  Lobau,  he  asked  if  there  was  any  broth  to 
give  them.  "No,"  replied  the  assistants.  "Have  some 
made,"  said  he,  "have  some  made  of  that  group,"  pointing 
to  several  horses  near  him;  but  these  horses  belonged  to 
a  general,  and  when  it  was  attempted  to  carry  out  M. 
Larrey's  orders,  the  owner  indignantly  refused  to  allow 
them  to  be  taken.  "Well,  take  mine  then,"  said  the 
brave  soldier,  "and  have  them  killed,  in  order  that  my 
comrades  may  have  broth."  This  was  done;  and  as  no  pots 
could  be  found  on  the  island  it  was  boiled  in  helmets, 
and  salted  with  cannon  powder  in  place  of  salt.  Marshal 
Massena  tasted  this  soup,  and  thought  it  very  good.  One 
hardly  knows  which  to  admire  most,  —  the  zeal  of  the  sur- 
geons, the  courage  with  which  they  confronted  danger  in 


196  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

caring  for  the  wounded  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  even 
in  the  midst  of  the  conflict ;  or  the  stoical  constancy  of  the 
soldiers,  who,  lying  on  the  ground,  some  without  an  arm, 
some  without  a  leg,  talked  over  their  campaigns  with  each 
other  while  waiting  to  be  operated  on,  some  even  going 
so  far  as  to  show  excessive  politeness.  "  M.  Docteur, 
begin  with  my  neighbor;  he  is  suffering  more  than  I. 
I  can  wait." 

A  cannoneer  had  both  legs  carried  away  by  a  ball ;  two 
of  his  comrades  picked  him  up  and  made  a  litter  with 
branches  of  trees,  on  which  they  placed  him  in  order  to 
convey  him  to  the  island.  The  poor  mutilated  fellow  did 
not  utter  a  single  groan,  but  murmured,  "I  am  very 
thirsty,"  from  time  to  time,  to  those  who  bore  him.  As 
they  passed  one  of  the  bridges,  he  begged  them  to  stop 
and  seek  a  little  wine  or  brandy  to  restore  his  strength. 
They  believed  him,  and  did  as  he  requested,  but  had  not 
gone  twenty  steps  when  the  cannoneer  called  to  them, 
"  Don't  go  so  fast,  my  comrades ;  I  have  no  legs,  and  I 
will  reach  the  end  of  my  journey  sooner  than  you.  Vive  la 
France  ;  "  and,  with  a  supreme  effort,  he  rolled  off  into  the 
Danube. 

The  conduct  of  a  surgeon-major  of  the  guard,  some  time 
after,  came  near  compromising  the  entire  corps  in  his  Maj- 
esty's   opinion.      This    surgeon,    M.    M ,   lodged  with 

General  Dorsenne  and  some  superior  officers  in  a  pretty 
country  seat,  belonging  to  the  Princess  of  Lichtenstein, 
the  concierge  of  the  house  being  an  old  German  who 
was  blunt  and  peculiar,  and  served  them  with  the  great- 
est repugnance,  making  them  as  uncomfortable  as  pos- 
sible.    In  vain,  for  instance,  they  requested  of  him  linen 


PRINCESS   LICHTENSTEIN.  197 

for  the  beds  and  table ;  he  always  pretended  not  to 
hear. 

General  Dorsenne  wrote  to  the  princess,  complaining  of 
this  condition  of  affairs  ;  and  in  consequence  she  no  doubt 
gave  orders,  but  the  general's  letter  remained  unanswered, 
and  several  days  passed  with  no  change  of  affairs.  They 
had  had  no  change  of  napkins  for  a  month,  when  the 
general  took  a  fancy  to  give  a  grand  supper,  at  which 
Rhenish  and  Hungarian  wine  were  freely  indulged  in, 
followed  by  punch.  The  host  was  highly  complimented; 
but  with  these  praises  were  mingled  energetic  reproaches 
on  the  doubtful  whiteness  of  the  napery,  General  Dorsenne 
excusing  himself  on  the  score  of  the  ill-humor  and  sordid 
economy  of  the  concierge,  who  was  a  fit  exponent  of  the 
scant  courtesy  shown  by  the  princess.  "  That  is  unendur- 
able !  "  cried  the  joyous  guests  in  chorus.  "  This  hostess 
who   so   completely  ignores    us   must  be  called  to    order. 

Come,   M ,  take  pen   and  paper   and  write  her  some 

strong  epigrams  ;  we  must  teach  this  princess  of  Germany 
how  to  live.  French  officers  and  conquerors  sleeping  in 
rumpled  sheets,  and  using  soiled  napkins!  What  an  out- 
rage !  "     M.  M was  only  too  faithful  an  interpreter  of 

the  unanimous  sentiments  of  these  gentlemen;  and  under 
the  excitement  of  the  fumes  of  these  Hungarian  wines 
wrote  the  Princess  of  Lichtenstein  a  letter  such  as  during 
the  Carnival  itself  one  would  not  dare  to  write  even  to 
public  women.  How  can  I  express  what  must  have  been 
Madame  Lichtenstein's  horror  on  reading  this  production, 
—  an  incomprehensible  collection  of  all  the  low  expres- 
sions that  army  slang  could  furnish!  The  evidence  of  a 
third  person  was  necessaiy  to  convince  her  that  the  sig- 


198  RECOLLECTIONS    OF  NAPOLEON. 

nature,    M ,    Surgeon-major    of    the    Imperial    French 

Guard,  was  not  the  forgery  of  some  miserable  drunkard. 
In  her  profound  indignation  the  princess  hastened  to  Gen- 
eral Andreossy,1  his  Majesty's  Governor  of  Vienna,  showed 
him  this  letter,  and  demanded  vengeance.  Whereupon  the 
general,  even  more  incensed  than  she,  entered  his  carriage, 
and,  proceeding  to  Schoenbrunn,  laid  the  wonderful  pro- 
duction before  the  Emperor.  The  Emperor  read  it,  re- 
coiled three  paces,  his  cheeks  reddened  with  anger,  his 
whole  countenance  was  disturbed,  and  in    a  terrible  tone 

ordered  the  grand  marshal  to  summon  M.  M ,  while 

every  one  waited  in  trembling  suspense. 

"Did  you  write  this  disgusting  letter?" — "Sire."  — 
"Reply,  I  order  you;  was  it  you?" — "Yes,  Sire,  in  a 
moment  of  forgetfulness,  after  a  supper."  —  "Wretch!" 
cried  his  Majesty,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  terrify  all  who 
heard  him.  "  You  deserve  to  be  instantly  shot !  Insult 
a  woman  so  basely !  And  an  old  woman  too.  Have  you 
no  mother  ?  I  respect  and  honor  every  old  woman  because 
she  reminds  me  of  my  mother!  "  —  "Sire,  I  am  guilty,  I 
admit,  but  my  repentance  is  great.  Deign  to  remember 
my  services.  I  have  followed  you  through  eighteen  cam- 
paigns ;  I  am  the  father  of  a  family."  These  last  words 
only  increased  the  anger  of  his  Majesty.  "  Let  him  be 
arrested !  Tear  off  his  decorations  ;  he  is  unworthy  to  wear 
them.  Let  him  be  tried  in  twenty-four  hours."  Then 
turning  to  the  generals,  who  stood  stupefied  and  immov- 
able around  him,  he  exclaimed,    "  Look,  gentlemen !   read 

1  Count  Antoiue  Francois  Andreossy,  born  in  Languedoc,  1761.  Served 
under  Napoleon  in  Italy  and  Egypt,  and  was  his  Chief  of  Staff  on  18th  Bru- 
maire.    Ambassador  to  London,  Vienna,  and  Turkey.     Died  1828.  — Trans. 


ANGER   OF  THE  EMPEROR.  199 

this  !  See  how  this  blackguard  addresses  a  princess,  and  at 
the  very  moment  when  her  husband  is  negotiating  a  peace 
with  me."  1 

The  parade  was  very  short  that  day ;  and  as  soon  as  it 
was  ended,  Generals  Dorsenne  and  Larrey  hastened  to  Ma- 
dame Lichtenstein,  and,  describing  to  her  the  scene  which 
had  just  taken  place,  made  her  most  humble  apologies,  in 
the  name  of  the  Imperial  Guard,  and  at  the  same  time 
entreated  her  to  intercede  for  the  unfortunate  fellow,  who 
deserved  blame,  no  doubt,  but  who  was  not  himself  when 
he  wrote  the  offensive  epistle.  "He  repents  bitterly,  Ma- 
dame," said  good  M.  Larrey ;  "  he  weeps  over  his  fault, 
and  bravely  awaits  his  punishment,  esteeming  it  a  just 
reparation  of  the  insult  to  you.  But  he  is  one  of  the  best 
officers  of  the  army ;  he  is  beloved  and  esteemed  ;  he  has 
saved  the  life  of  thousands,  and  his  distinguished  talents 
are  the  only  fortune  his  family  possesses.  What  will 
become  of  them  if  he  is  shot?  "  —  "Shot!  "  exclaimed  the 
princess  ;  "  shot !  Bon  Dieu  !  would  the  matter  be  carried 
as  far  as  that?"  Then  General  Dorsenne  described  to  her 
the  Emperor's  resentment  as  incomparably  deeper  than  her 
own  ;  and  the  princess,  much  moved,  immediately  wrote 
the  Emperor  a  letter,  in  which  she  expressed  herself  as 
grateful,  and  fully  satisfied  with  the  reparation  which 
had  already  been  made,  and  entreated  him  to  pardon 
M.  M . 

His  Majesty  read  the  letter,  but  made  no  reply.  The 
princess  was  again  visited ;  and  she  had  by  this  time  become 
so  much  alarmed    that   she  regretted  exceedingly  having 

1  Prince  John  Joseph  Lichtenstein,  born  in  Vienna,  1760.  General  and 
diplomat.    Died  1836.  —  Trans. 


200  EECOLLECTJONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

shown  the  letter  of  M.  M to  the  general;  and,  having 

decided  at  any  cost  to  obtain  the  surgeon's  pardon,  she 
addressed  a  petition  to  the  Emperor,  which  closed  with 
this  sentence,  expressing  angelic  forgiveness  :  "  Sire,  I  am 
going  to  fall  on  my  knees  in  my  oratory,  and  will  not  rise 
until  I  have  obtained  from  Heaven  your  Majesty's  pardon." 
The  Emperor  could  no  longer  hold  out ;    he  granted  the 

pardon,  and  M.  M was  released  after  a  month  of  close 

confinement.  M.  Larrey  was  charged  by  his  Majesty  to 
reprove  him  most  severely,  with  a  caution  to  guard  more 
carefully  the  honor  of  the  corps  to  which  he  belonged ;  and 
the  remonstrances  of  this  excellent  man  were  made  in  so 

paternal  a  manner  that  they  doubled  in  M.  M 's  eyes 

the  value  of  the  inestimable  service  M.  Larrey  had  ren- 
dered him. 

M.  le  Baron  Larrey  was  always  most  disinterested  in 
his  kind  services,  a  fact  which  was  well  known  and  often 

abused.     General  d'A ,  the  son  of  a  rich  senator,  had 

his  shoulder  broken  by  a  shell  at  Wagram ;  and  an  exceed- 
ingly delicate  operation  was  found  necessary,  requiring  a 
skilled  hand,  and  which  M.  Larrey  alone  could  perform. 
This  operation  was  a  complete  success ;  but  the  wounded 
man  had  a  delicate  constitution,  which  had  been  much 
impaired,  and  consequently  required  the  most  incessant 
care  and  attention.  M.  Larrey  hardly  ever  left  his  bed- 
side, and  was  assisted  by  two  medical  students,  who 
watched  by  turns,  and  assisted  him  in  dressing  the  wound. 
The  treatment  was  long  and  painful,  but  a  complete  cure 
was  the  result;  and  when  almost  entirely  recovered,  the 
general  took  leave  of  the  Emperor  to  return  to  France.  A 
pension  and  decorations  canceled  the  debt  of  the  head  of 


M.   LARREY.  201 

the  state  to  him,  but  the  manner  in  which  he  acquitted  his 
own  towards  the  man  who  had  saved  his  life  is  worthy  of 
consideration. 

As  he  entered  his  carnage  he  handed  to  one  of  his 
friends  a  letter  and  a  little  box,  saying  to  this  general,  "I 
cannot  leave  Vienna  without  thanking  M.  Larrey;  do  me 
the  favor  of  handing  to  him  for  me  this  mark  of  my 
gratitude.  Good  Larrey,  I  will  never  forget  the  services 
he  has  rendered  me."  Next  day  the  friend  performed  his 
commission ;  and  a  soldier  was  sent  with  the  letter  and  the 
present,  and,  as  he  reached  Schoenbriinn  during  the  parade, 
sought  M.  Larrey  in  the  line.     "  Here  is  a  letter  and  a 

box  which  I  bring  from  General  A ."     M.  Larrey  put 

both  in  his  pocket,  but  after  the  parade  examined  them, 
and  showed  the  package  to  Cadet  de  Gassicourt,  saying, 
"Look  at  it,  and  tell  me  what  you  think  of  it."  The  letter 
was  very  prettily  written;  as  for  the  box,  it  contained  a 
diamond  worth  about  sixty  francs. 

This  pitiful  recompense  recalls  one  both  glorious  and 
well-earned  which  M.  Larrey  received  from  the  Emperor 
during  the  campaign  in  Egypt.  At  the  battle  of  Aboukir, 
General  Fugieres  was  operated  on  by  M.  Larrey  under  the 
enemies'  fire  for  a  dangerous  wound  on  the  shoulder ;  and 
thinking  himself  about  to  die,  offered  his  sword  to  General 
Bonaparte,  saying  to  him,  u  General,  perhaps  one  day  you 
may  envy  my  fate."  The  general-in-chief  presented  this 
sword  to  M.  Larrey,  after  having  engraved  on  it  the  name 
of  M.  Larrey  and  that  of  the  battle.  However,  General 
Fugieres  did  not  die;  his  life  was  saved  by  the  skillful 
operation  he  had  undergone,  and  for  seventeen  years  he 
commanded  the  Invalids  at  Avignon. 


202  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

Some  reflections  on  the  manners  of  the  officers  in  the  army.  —  Military  style. 
—  The  Prince  de  Neuchatel. —  Generals  Bertrand,  Bacler  d'Alhe,  etc. — 
Prince  Eugene,  Marshals  Oudinot,  Davoust,  Bessieres,  Generals  Rapp, 
Lebrun,  Lauriston,  etc. — Affability  and  dignity.  —  Foppishness  of  the 
jay-birds  of  the  army.  — Cartridge-box  used  as  a  dressing-case.  — Officers 
by  courtesy.  —  Officers  of  the  line.  —  Bravery  and  modesty.  —  Real  courage 
averse  to  duelling.  —  Disinterestedness. — Attachment  of  the  officers  to 
their  soldiers.  —  Breakfast  of  the  grenadiers  the  day  before  the  battle  of 
"Wagram. — The  Emperor's  orders  disregarded.  —  The  Emperor  indig- 
nant. —  The  culprit  shot.  —  The  dog  of  the  regiment.  —  Death  of  General 
Oudet  at  "Wagram.  —  Confidence  reposed  in  Constant  by  an  officer,  one  of 
his  friends.  —  The  Philadelphi. — Republican  conspiracy  against  Napo- 
leon.—  Oudet  chief  of  the  conspiracy.  —  Bravery  of  this  general.  —  His 
mysterious  death. —  Suicides.  —  Military  breakfast  the  day  after  the  bat- 
tle of  Wagram.  — A  bold  robbery.  —  Heroic  courage  of   a  Saxon  surgeon. 

It  is  not  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy  that  differences 
in  the  manner  and  bearing  of  soldiers  can  be  remarked, 
for  the  requirements  of  the  service  completely  engross  both 
the  ideas  and  time  of  officers,  whatever  their  grade,  and 
uniformity  of  occupation  produces  also  a  kind  of  uni- 
formity of  habit  and  character;  but,  in  the  monotonous 
life  of  the  camp,  differences  due  to  nature  and  educa- 
tion reassert  themselves.  I  noted  this  many  times  after 
the  truces  and  treaties  of  peace  which  crowned  the  most 
glorious  campaigns  of  the  Emperor,  and  had  occasion  to 
renew  my  observations  on  this  point  during  the  long  so- 
journ which  we  made  at  Schoenbrunn  with  the  army. 
Military  tone  in  the  army  is  a  most  difficult  tiling  to  define, 
and  differs  according  to  rank,  time  of  service,  and  kind 


MILITARY  STYLE.  203 

of  service ;  and  there  are  no  genuine  soldiers  except  those 
who  form  part  of  the  line,  or  who  command  it.  In  the 
soldiers'  opinion,  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel  and  his  brilliant 
staff,  the  grand  marshal,  Generals  Bertrand,  Bacler  d'Albe,1 
etc.,  were  only  men  of  the  cabinet  council,  whose  experi- 
ence might  be  of  some  use  in  such  deliberations,  but  to 
whom  bravery  was  not  indispensable. 

The  chief  generals,  such  as  Prince  Eugene,  Marshals 
Oudinot,  Davoust,  Bessieres,  and  his  Majesty's  aides-de- 
camp, Rapp,  Lebrun,  Lauriston,  Mouton,  etc.,  were  exceed- 
ingly affable,  and  every  one  was  most  politely  received  by 
them;  their  dignity  never  became  haughtiness,  nor  their 
ease  an  excessive  familiarity,  though  their  manners  were 
at  all  times  slightly  tinged  by  the  austerity  inseparable 
from  the  character  of  a  warrior.  This  was  not  the  idea 
held  in  the  army  in  regard  to  a  few  of  the  ordnance 
and  staff  officers  (aides-de-camp) ;  for,  while  according 
them  all  the  consideration  due  both  to  their  education 
and  their  courage,  they  called  them  the  jay-birds  of  the 
<(rnn/;  receiving  favors  which  others  deserved;  obtaining 
cordons  and  promotions  for  carrying  a  few  letters  into 
camp,  often  without  having  even  seen  the  enemy ;  insult- 
ing  by  their  luxury  the  modest  temperance  of  the  braver 
officers;  and  more  foppish  in  the  midst  of  their  battalions 
than  in  the  boudoirs  of  their  mistresses.  The  silver-gilt 
box  of  one  of  these  gentlemen  was  a  complete  portable 
dressing-case,  and  contained,  instead  of  cartridges,  essence 
bottles,  brushes,  a  mirror,  a  tongue-scraper,  a  shell-comb, 

1  Louis  Albert  Bacler  d'Albe,  general  of  brigade  and  ebief  of  topograph- 
ical engineers,  also  a  painter,  born  at  St.  Pol,  1762 ;  distinguished  biniself  at 
Areola;  died  182±. —Trans. 


204  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

and — I  do  not  know  that  it  lacked  even  a  pot  of  rouge. 
It  could  not  be  said  that  they  were  not  brave,  for  they 
would  allow  themselves  to  be  killed  for  a  glance ;  but  they 
were  very  rarely  exposed  to  danger.  Foreigners  would 
be  right  in  maintaining  the  assertion  that  the  French  sol- 
dier is  frivolous,  presumptuous,  impertinent,  and  immoral, 
if  they  formed  their  judgment  alone  from  these  officers 
by  courtesy,  who,  in  place  of  study  and  faithful  service, 
had  often  no  other  title  to  their  rank  than  the  merit  of 
having  emigrated. 

The  officers  of  the  line,  who  had  served  in  several  cam- 
paigns and  had  gained  their  epaulettes  on  the  field  of  battle, 
held  a  very  different  position  in  the  army.  Always  grave, 
polite,  and  considerate,  there  was  a  kind  of  fraternity  among 
them ;  and  having  known  suffering  and  misery  themselves, 
they  were  always  ready  to  help  others ;  and  their  conversa- 
tion, though  not  distinguished  by  brilliant  information,  was 
often  full  of  interest.  In  nearly  every  case  boasting  quitted 
them  with  their  youth,  and  the  bravest  were  always  the  most 
modest.  Influenced  by  no  imaginary  points  of  honor,  they 
estimated  themselves  at  their  real  worth ;  and  all  fear  of  be- 
ing suspected  of  cowardice  was  beneath  them.  With  these 
brave  soldiers,  who  often  united  to  the  greatest  kindness 
of  heart  a  mettle  no  less  great,  a  flat  contradiction  or  even 
a  little  hasty  abuse  from  one  of  their  brothers  in  arms  was 
not  obliged  to  be  washed  out  in  blood;  and  examples  of 
the  moderation  which  true  courage  alone  has  a  right  to 
show  were  not  rare  in  the  army.  Those  who  cared  least 
for  money,  and  were  most  generous,  were  most  exposed,  — 
the  artillerymen  and  the  hussars,  for  instance.  At  Wa- 
gram  I  saw  a  lieutenant  pay  a  louis  for  a  bottle  of  brandy, 


MILITARY  STYLE.  205 

and  immediately  divide  it  among  the  soldiers  of  his  com- 
pany; and  brave  officers  often  formed  such  an  attach- 
ment to  their  regiment,  especially  if  it  had  distinguished 
itself,  that  they  sometimes  refused  promotion  rather  than 
be  separated  from  their  children,  as  they  called  them.  In 
them  we  behold  the  true  model  of  the  French  soldier ;  and 
it  is  this  kindness,  mingled  with  the  austerity  of  a  warrior, 
this  attachment  of  the  chief  to  the  soldier,  which  the 
latter  is  so  capable  of  appreciating,  and  an  impregnable 
honor,  which  serve  to  distinguish  our  soldiers  from  all 
others,  and  not,  as  foreigners  think,  presumption,  bragga- 
docio, and  libertinage,  which  latter  are  ever  the  character- 
istics of  the  parasites  of  glory  alone. 

In  the  camp  of  Lobau  on  the  evening  before  the  battle 
of  Wagram,  the  Emperor,  as  he  was  walking  outside  his 
tent,  stopped  a  moment  watching  the  grenadiers  of  his 
guard  who  were  breakfasting.  "Well,  my  children,  what 
do  you  think  of  the  wine  ?  "  —  "It  will  not  make  us  tipsy, 
Sire ;  there  is  our  cellar,"  said  a  soldier  pointing  to  the 
Danube.  The  Emperor,  who  had  ordered  a  bottle  of  good 
wine  to  be  distributed  to  each  soldier,  was  surprised  to  see 
that  they  were  so  abstemious  the  evening  before  a  battle. 
He  inquired  of  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel  the  cause  of  this  : 
and  upon  investigation,  it  was  learned  that  two  storekeepers 
and  an  employee  in  the  commissary  department  had  sold 
forty  thousand  bottles  of  the  wine  which  the  Emperor  had 
ordered  to  be  distributed,  and  had  replaced  it  with  some  of 
inferior  quality.  This  wine  had  been  seized  by  the  Im- 
perial Guard  in  a  rich  abbey,  and  was  valued  at  thirty 
thousand  florins.  The  culprits  were  arrested,  tried,  and 
condemned  to  death. 


206  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

There  was  in  the  camp  at  Lobau  a  dog  which  I  think 
all  the  army  knew  by  the  name  of  corps-de-garde.  He  was 
old,  emaciated,  and  ugly ;  but  his  moral  qualities  caused  his 
exterior  defects  to  be  quickly  lost  sight  of.  He  was  some- 
times called  the  brave  dog  of  the  Empire ;  since  he  had 
received  a  bayonet  stroke  at  Marengo,  and  had  a  paw 
broken  by  a  gun  at  Austerlitz,  being  at  that  time  attached 
to  a  regiment  of  dragoons.  He  had  no  master.  He  was 
in  the  habit  of  attaching  himself  to  a  corps,  and  continuing 
faithful  so  long  as  they  fed  him  well  and  did  not  beat 
him.  A  kick  or  a  blow  with  the  flat  of  a  sword  would 
cause  him  to  desert  this  regiment,  and  pass  on  to  another. 
He  was  unusually  intelligent;  and  whatever  might  be  the 
position  of  the  corps  in  which  he  was  serving,  he  did  not 
abandon  it,  or  confound  it  with  any  other,  and  in  the 
thickest  of  the  fight  was  always  near  the  banner  he  had 
chosen ;  and  if  in  the  camp  he  met  a  soldier  from  the  regi- 
ment he  had  deserted,  he  would  droop  his  ears,  drop  his 
tail  between  his  legs,  and  scamper  off  quickly  to  rejoin  his 
new  brothers  in  arms.  When  his  regiment  was  on  the 
march  he  circled  as  a  scout  all  around  it,  and  gave  warn- 
ing by  a  bark  if  he  found  anything  unusual,  thus  on  more 
than  one  occasion  saving  his  comrades  from  ambush. 

Among  the  officers  who  perished  at  the  battle  of  Wa- 
gram,  or  rather  in  a  small  engagement  which  took  place  after 
the  battle  had  ended,  one  of  those  most  regretted  by  the 
soldiers  was  General  Oudet.1  He  was  one  of  the  bravest 
generals  of  the  army ;  but  what  brings  his  name  especially 
to  mind,  among  all  those  whom  the  army  lost  on  that  mem- 

i  Jacques  Joseph  Oudet,  born  at  Meynal,  1773,  a  zealous  republican. 
Killed  at  "Wagram.— Tranb. 


THE  PH1LADELPH1.  207 

orable  day,  is  a  note  which  I  have  preserved  of  a  conversa- 
tion I  held  several  years  after  this  battle  with  an  excellent 
officer  who  was  one  of  my  sincerest  friends. 

In   a    conversation  with   LieutenamVcolonel    B in 

1812,  he  remarked,  "I  must  tell  you,  my  dear  Constant,  of 
a  strange  adventure  which  happened  to  me  at  Wagram.  I 
did  not  tell  you  at  the  time,  because  I  had  promised  to  be 
silent ;  but  since  at  the  present  time  no  one  can  be  compro- 
mised by  my  indiscretion,  and  since  those  who  then  had  most 
to  fear  if  their  singular  ideas  (for  I  can  call  them  by  no 
other  name)  had  been  revealed,  would  now  be  first  to  laugh 
at  them,  I  can  well  inform  you  of  the  mysterious  discovery 
I  made  at  that  period. 

"You  well  know  that  I  was  much  attached  to  poor 

F whom  we  so  much  regretted ;  and  he  was  one  of  our 

most  popular  and  attractive  officers,  his  good  qualities  win- 
ning the  hearts  of  all,  especially  of  those  who  like  himself 
had  an  unfailing  fund  of  frankness  and  good  humor.  All 
at  once  I  noticed  a  great  change  in  his  manner,  as  well  as 
in  that  of  his  habitual  companions ;  they  appeared  gloomy, 
and  met  together  no  more  for  gay  conversation,  but  on  the 
contrary  spoke  in  low  tones  and  with  an  air  of  mystery. 
More  than  once  this  sudden  change  had  struck  me ;  and  if 
by  chance  I  met  them  in  retired  places,  instead  of  receiving 
me  cordially  as  had  always  been  their  custom,  they  seemed 
as  if  trying  to  avoid  me.  At  last,  weaiy  of  this  inexpli- 
cable mystery,  I  took  F aside,  and  asked  him  what  this 

strange  conduct  meant.  '  You  have  forestalled  me,  my  dear 
friend,'  said  he.  '  I  was  on  the  point  of  making  an  impor- 
tant disclosure  ;  I  trust  you  will  not  accuse  me  of  want  of 
confidence,  but  swear  to  me  before  I  confide  in  you  that 


208  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

you  will  tell  no  living  soul  what  I  am  now  going  to  reveal. 
When  I  had  taken  this  oath,  which  he  demanded  of  me  in 
a  tone  of  gravity  which  surprised  me  inexpressibly,  he 
continued,  '  If  I  have  not  already  told  you  of  the  Phila- 
delphia it  is  only  because  I  knew  that  reasons  which  I  re- 
spect would  prevent  your  ever  joining  them;  but  since 
you  have  asked  this  secret,  it  would  be  a  want  of  confidence 
in  you,  and  at  the  same  time  perhaps  an  imprudence,  not  to 
reveal  it.  Some  patriots  have  united  themselves  under  the 
title  of  Philadelphi,  in  order  to  save  our  country  from  the 
dangers  to  which  it  is  exposed.  The  Emperor  Napoleon 
has  tarnished  the  glory  of  the  First  Consul  Bonaparte ;  he 
had  saved  our  liberty,  but  he  has  since  destroyed  it  by  the 
re-establishment  of  the  nobility  and  by  the  Concordat.  The 
society  of  the  Philadelphi  has  as  yet  no  well-defined  plans 
for  preventing  the  evils  with  which  ambition  will  continue 
to  overwhelm  France ;  but  when  peace  is  restored  we  shall 
see  if  it  is  impossible  to  force  Bonaparte  to  restore  republi- 
can institutions,  and  meanwhile  we  are  overcome  by  grief 
and  despair.  The  brave  chief  of  the  Philadelphi,  the  pure 
Oudet,  has  been  assassinated,  and  who  is  worthy  to  take 
his  place?  Poor  Oudet!  never  was  one  braver  or  more 
eloquent  than  he  !  With  a  noble  haughtiness  and  an  im- 
movable firmness  of  character,  he  possessed  an  excellent 
heart.  His  first  battle  showed  his  intrepid  spirit.  When 
cut  down  at  Saint  Bartholomew  by  a  ball,  his  comrades 
wished  to  bear  him  away,  "  No,  no,"  cried  he;  "don't  waste 
time  over  me.  The  Spaniards  !  the  Spaniards  !  "  —  "  Shall 
we  leave  you  to  the  enemy?"  said  one  of  those  who  had 
advanced  towards  him.  "  Well,  drive  them  back  if  you  do 
not  wish  me  to  be  left  with  them."     At  the  beginning  of 


DEATH  OF  GENERAL    OUDET.  209 

the  campaign  of  Wagram,  he  was  colonel  of  the  Ninth  regi- 
ment of  the  line,  and  was  made  general  of  brigade  on  the 
evening  before  the  battle,  his  corps  forming  part  of  the 
left  wing  commanded  by  Massena.  Our  line  was  broken 
on  this  side  for  a  moment,  and  Oudet  made  heroic  efforts  to 
reform  it ;  and  after  he  had  been  wounded  by  three  bayonet 
strokes,  with  the  loss  of  much  blood,  and  dragged  away  by 
those  of  us  who  were  forced  to  fall  back,  still  had  himself 
fastened  on  his  horse  in  order  that  he  might  not  be  forced 
to  leave  the  battlefield. 

'"After  the  battle,  he  received  orders  to  advance  to  the 
front,  and  to  place  himself  with  his  regiment  in  an  advanta- 
geous position  for  observation,  and  then  return  immediately 
to  headquarters,  with  a  certain  number  of  his  officers,  to 
receive  new  orders.  He  executed  these  orders,  and  was 
returning  in  the  night,  when  a  discharge  of  musketry  was 
suddenly  heard,  and  he  fell  into  an  ambush ;  he  fought 
furiously  in  the  darkness,  knowing  neither  the  number 
nor  character  of  his  adversaries,  and  at  break  of  day  was 
found,  covered  with  wounds,  in  the  midst  of  twenty  officers 
who  had  been  slain  around  him.  He  was  still  breathing, 
and  lived  three  days;  but  the  only  words  he  pronounced 
were  those  of  commiseration  for  the  fate  of  his  country. 
When  his  body  was  taken  from  the  hospital  to  prepare 
it  for  burial,  several  of  the  wounded  in  their  despair  tore 
the  bandages  from  their  wounds,  a  sergeant-major  threw 
himself  on  his  sword  near  the  grave,  and  a  lieutenant  there 

blew  out  his  brains.     Behold,'  said  F ,  '  a  death  that 

plunges  us  into  the  deepest  despair ! '  I  tried  to  prove  to 
him  that  he  was  mistaken,  and  that  the  plans  of  the  Phila- 
delphi   were   mad,   but   succeeded   very  imperfectly;    and 


210  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

though  he  listened  to  my  advice,  he  again  earnestly  rec- 
ommended secrecy." 

The  day  after  the  battle  of  Wagram,  I  think,  a  large 
number  of  officers  were  breakfasting  near  the  Emperor's 
tent,  the  generals  seated  on  the  grass,  and  the  officers 
standing  around  them.  They  discussed  the  battle  at 
length,  and  related  numerous  remarkable  anecdotes,  some 
of  which  remain  engraven  on  my  memory.  A  staff-officer 
of  his  Majesty  said,  "I  thought  I  had  lost  my  finest  horse. 
As  I  had  ridden  him  on  the  5  th  and  wished  him  to  rest,  I 
gave  him  to  my  servant  to  hold  by  the  bridle ;  and  when 
he  left  him  one  moment  to  attend  to  his  own,  the  horse 
was  stolen  in  a  flash  by  a  dragoon,  who  instantly  sold  him 
to  a  dismounted  captain,  telling  him  he  was  a  captured 
horse.  I  recognized  him  in  the  ranks,  and  claimed  him, 
proving  by  my  saddle-bags  and  their  contents  that  he  was 
not  a  horse  taken  from  the  Austrians,  and  had  to  repay 
the  captain  the  five  louis  which  he  had  paid  to  the  dragoon 
for  this  horse  which  had  cost  me  sixty." 

The  best  anecdote,  perhaps,  of  the  day  was  this:  M. 
Salsdorf,  a  Saxon,  and  surgeon  in  Prince  Christian's  regi- 
ment, in  the  beginning  of  the  battle  had  his  leg  fractured 
by  a  shell.  Lying  on  the  ground,  he  saw,  fifteen  paces 
from  him,  M.  Amedee  de  Kerbourg,  who  was  wounded  by 
a  bullet,  and  vomiting  blood.  He  saw  that  this  officer 
would  die  of  apoplexy  if  something  was  not  done  for  him, 
and  collecting  all  his  strength,  dragged  himself  along  in 
the  dust,  bled  him,  and  saved  his  life. 

M.  de  Kerbourg  had  no  opportunity  to  embrace  the  one 
who  had  saved  his  life ;  for  M.  de  Salsdorf  was  carried  to 
Vienna,  and  only  survived  the  amputation  four  days. 


AT  SCHOENBBUNN.  211 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

Benefactions  of  the  Emperor  during  his  stay  at  Schoenhrunn.  —  Anecdote. — 
The  young  Mahoinmedan  woman  carried  away  by  Corsairs. — A  second 
He'lo'ise. —  Second  taking  away.  —  Distress.  —  Journey  on  foot  from  Con- 
stantinople to  Vienna. —  Desperate  news. —  Marriage  of  the  young  Mahoin- 
medan to  a  French  officer.  — Madame  Dartois'  journey  to  Constantinople. 

—  Terror  and  flight.  —  Madame  Dartois  a  widow  for  the  second  time.  — 
Petitions  to  the  Emperor.  —  M.  Jaubert,  the  Duke  of  Bassano  and  General 
Lehrun.  —  Generosity  and  gratitude.  —  The  fifteenth  of  August  at  Vienna. 

—  Strange  illumination.  —  Frightful  accident.  —  The  commissary-general 
of  police  at  Vienna.  —  Anecdote.  —  An  officer's  singular  mistake. — Pas- 
sion for  play  and  treachery.  —  The  spy  surprised  and  shot.  —  Courage 
of  a  conscript,  and  gayety  of  the  Emperor.  —  Second  attempt  on  the 
Emperor's  life. — The  mistress  of  Lord  Paget. — Advances  made  to  the 
countess  in  the  Emperor's  name  —  Hesitation.  —  Bold  resolution.  — 
The  man  of  the  police. — The  match  fails.  —  Security  of  the  Emperor. 

—  The  Emperor's  courage  at  Essling.  —  His  solicitude  for  his  soldiers. — 
Schoenhrunn  a  rendezvous  for  learned  men.  —  M.  Maelzel,  mechanician. 

—  The  Emperor  playing  chess  with  an  automaton.  —  The  Emperor  cheat- 
ing and  beaten.  —  Commendable  action  of  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel. — 
Gratitude  of  two  young  girls. 

At  Schoenhrunn,  as  elsewhere,  his  Majesty  marked  his 
presence  by  his  benefactions.  I  still  retain  vivid  recollec- 
tions of  an  occurrence  which  long  continued  to  be  the  sub- 
ject of  conversation  at  this  period,  and  the  singular  details 
of  which  render  it  worthy  of  narration. 

A  little  girl  nine  years  old,  belonging  to  a  very  wealthy 
and  highly  esteemed  family  of  Constantinople,  was  carried 
away  by  bandits  as  she  was  promenading  one  day  with  her 
attendant  outside  the  city.  The  bandits  carried  their  two 
captives  to  Anatolia,  and  there  sold  them.     The  little  girl, 


212  BECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

who  gave  promise  of  great  beauty,  fell  to  the  lot  of  a  rich 
merchant  of  Broussa,  the  harshest,  most  severe,  and  intract- 
able man  of  the  town  ;  but  the  artless  grace  of  this  child 
touched  even  his  ferocious  heart.  He  conceived  a  great 
affection  for  her,  and  distinguished  her  from  his  other 
slaves  by  giving  her  only  light  employment,  such  as  the 
care  of  flowers,  etc.  A  European  gentleman  who  lived 
with  this  merchant  offered  to  take  charge  of  her  educa- 
tion ;  to  which  the  man  consented,  all  the  more  willingly 
since  she  had  gained  his  heart,  and  he  wished  to  make  her 
his  wife  as  soon  as  she  reached  a  marriageable  age.  But 
the  European  had  the  same  idea ;  and  as  he  was  young, 
with  an  agreeable  and  intelligent  countenance,  and  very 
rich,  he  succeeded  in  winning  the  young  slave's  affection ; 
and  she  escaped  one  day  from  her  master,  and,  like  an- 
other Heloise,  followed  her  Abelard  to  Kutahie,  where 
they  remained  concealed  for  six  months. 

She  was  then  ten  years  old.  Her  preceptor,  who  be- 
came more  devoted  to  her  each  day,  carried  her  to  Con- 
stantinople, and  confided  her  to  the  care  of  a  Greek  bishop, 
charging  him  to  make  her  a  good  Christian,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Vienna,  with  the  intention  of  obtaining  the  con- 
sent of  his  family  and  the  permission  of  his  government  to 
marry  a  slave. 

Two  years  then  passed,  and  the  poor  girl  heard  nothing 
from  her  future  husband.  Meanwhile  the  bishop  had  died, 
and  his  heirs  had  abandoned  Marie  (this  was  the  baptis- 
mal name  of  the  convert) ;  and  she,  with  no  means  and  no 
protector,  ran  the  risk  of  being  at  any  moment  discovered 
by  some  relation  or  friend  of  her  family  —  and  it  is  well 
known  that  the  Turks  never  forgive  a  change  of  religion. 


STOBY  OF  THE  SLAVE  GIRL.  213 

Tormented  by  a  thousand  fears,  weary  of  her  retreat  and 
the  deep  obscurity  in  which  she  was  buried,  she  took  the 
bold  resolution  of  rejoining  her  benefactor,  and  not  de- 
terred by  dangers  of  the  road  set  out  from  Constantinople 
alone  on  foot.  On  her  arrival  in  the  capital  of  Austria, 
she  learned  that  her  intended  husband  had  been  dead  for 
more  than  a  year. 

The  despair  into  which  the  poor  girl  was  plunged  by 
this  sad  news  can  be  better  imagined  than  described. 
What  was  to  be  done?  What  would  become  of  her? 
She  decided  to  return  to  her  family,  and  for  this  purpose 
repaired  to  Trieste,  which  town  she  found  in  a  state  of 
great  commotion.  It  had  just  received  a  French  garrison ; 
but  the  disturbances  inseparable  from  war  were  not  yet 
ended,  and  young  Marie  consequently  entered  a  Greek 
convent  to  await  a  suitable  opportunity  of  returning  to 
Constantinople.  There  a  sub-lieutenant  of  infantry,  named 
Dartois,  saw  her,  became  madly  in  love,  won  her  heart,  and 
married  her  at  the  end  of  a  year. 

The  happiness  which  Madame  Dartois  now  enjoyed  did 
not  cause  her  to  renounce  her  plan  of  visiting  her  own 
family;  and,  as  she  now  had  become  a  Frenchwoman,  she 
thought  this  title  would  accelerate  her  return  to  her  par- 
ents' favor.  Her  husband's  regiment  received  orders  to 
leave  Trieste ;  and  this  gave  Madame  Dartois  the  oppor- 
tunity to  renew  her  entreaties  to  be  allowed  to  visit  Con- 
stantinople, to  which  her  husband  gave  his  consent,  not 
without  explaining  to  her,  however,  all  she  had  to  fear,  and 
all  the  dangers  to  which  this  journey  would  again  expose 
her.  At  last  she  started,  and  a  few  days  after  her  arrival 
was  on  the  point  of  making  herself  known  to  her  family, 


214  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

when  she  recognized  on  the  street  through  her  veil,  the 
Broussan  merchant,  her  former  master,  who  was  seeking 
her  throughout  Constantinople,  and  had  sworn  to  kill  her 
on  sight. 

This  terrible  rencontre  threw  her  into  such  a  fright, 
that  for  three  days  she  lived  in  constant  terror,  scarcely 
daring  to  venture  out,  even  on  the  most  urgent  business, 
and  always  fearing  lest  she  should  see  again  the  ferocious 
Anatolian.  From  time  to  time  she  received  letters  from 
her  husband,  who  still  marched  with  the  French  army ;  and, 
as  it  was  now  advancing,  he  conjured  her  in  his  last  letters  to 
return  to  France,  hoping  to  be  able  soon  to  rejoin  her  there. 

Deprived  of  all  hope  of  a  reconciliation  with  her  family, 
Madame  Dartois  determined  to  comply  with  her  husband's 
request ;  and,  although  the  war  between  Russia  and  Turkey 
rendered  the  roads  very  unsafe,  she  left  Constantinople  in 
the  month  of  July,  1809. 

After  passing  through  Hungary  and  the  midst  of  the 
Austrian  camp,  Madame  Dartois  bent  her  steps  towards 
Vienna,  where  she  had  the  sorrow  to  learn  that  her  hus- 
band had  been  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Wagram, 
and  was  now  in  that  town ;  she  hastened  to  him,  and  he 
expired  in  her  arms. 

She  mourned  her  husband  deeply,  but  was  soon  com- 
pelled to  think  of  the  future,  as  the  small  amount  of 
money  remaining  to  her  when  she  left  Constantinople  had 
been  barely  sufficient  for  the  expenses  of  her  journey,  and 
M.  Dartois  had  left  no  property.  Some  one  having  advised 
the  poor  woman  to  go  to  Schoenbrunn  and  ask  his  Majesty's 
assistance,  a  superior  officer  gave  her  a  letter  of  recommen- 
dation to  M.  Jaubert,  interpreting  secretary  of  the  Emperor. 


MADAME  DARTOIS  AND  NAPOLEON.  215 

Madame  Dartois  arrived,  as  his  Majesty  was  preparing  to 
leave  Schoenbrunn,  and  made  application  to  M.  Jaubert, 
the  Duke  of  Bassano,  General  Lebrun,1  and  many  other 
persons  who  became  deeply  interested  in  her  misfortunes. 

The  Emperor,  when  informed  by  the  Duke  of  Bassano 
of  the  deplorable  condition  of  this  woman,  at  once  made  a 
special  order  granting  Madame  Dartois  an  annual  pension 
of  sixteen  hundred  francs,  the  first  year  of  which  was 
paid  in  advance.  When  the  Duke  of  Bassano  announced 
to  the  widow  his  Majesty's  decision,  and  handed  her  the 
first  year's  pension,  she  fell  at  his  feet  and  bathed  them 
with  her  tears. 

The  Emperor's  fete  was  celebrated  at  Vienna  with  much 
brilliancy ;  and  as  all  the  inhabitants  felt  themselves  obliged 
to  illumine  their  windows,  the  effect  was  extraordinarily 
brilliant.  They  had  no  set  illuminations  ;  but  almost  all 
the  windows  had  double  sashes,  and  between  these  sashes 
were  placed  lamps,  candles,  etc.,  ingeniously  arranged,  the 
effect  of  which  was  charming.  The  Austrians  appeared 
as  gay  as  our  soldiers ;  they  had  not  feted  their  own  Em- 
peror with  so  much  ardor,  and,  though  deep  down  in  their 
hearts  they  must  have  experienced  a  feeling  of  constraint 
at  such  unaccustomed  J03-,  appearances  gave  no  sign  of  this. 

On  the  evening  of  the  fete,  during  the  parade,  a  terrible 
explosion  was  heard  at  Schoenbrunn,  the  noise  of  which 
seemed  to  come  from  the  town ;  and  a  few  moments  after- 
wards a  gendarme  appeared,  his  horse  in  a  gallop.  "  Oh, 
oh ! "    said    Colonel    Mechnem,   "  there    must    be  a  fire  at 

1  Anne  Charles  Lebrun,  son  of  the  third  consul,  horn  in  Paris,  1775 ; 
aide-de-camp  of  Desaix  at  Marengo  and  of  Napoleon  at  Eylau  and  Wagram ; 
general  of  division,  1812 ;  hecame,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  Duke  of  Plai- 
sance,  1824 ;  died  1859.  —  Trans. 


216  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Vienna,  if  a  gendarme  is  galloping."  In  fact,  he  brought 
tidings  of  a  very  deplorable  event.  While  an  artillery 
company  had  been  preparing,  in  the  arsenal  of  the  town, 
numerous  fireworks  to  celebrate  his  Majesty's  fete,  one  of 
them,  in  preparing  a  rocket,  accidentally  set  the  fuse 
on  fire,  and  becoming  frightened  threw  it  away  from  him. 
It  fell  on  the  powder  which  the  shop  contained,  and 
eighteen  cannoneers  were  killed  by  the  explosion,  and 
seven  wounded. 

During  his  Majesty's  fete,  as  I  entered  his  cabinet  one 
morning,  I  found  with  him  M.  Charles  Sulmetter,  commis- 
sary general  of  the  police  of  Vienna,  whom  I  had  seen  often 
before.  He  had  begun  as  head  spy  for  the  Emperor ;  and 
this  had  proved  such  a  profitable  business  that  he  had 
amassed  an  income  of  forty  thousand  pounds. 

He  had  been  born  at  Strasburg ;  and  in  his  early  life 
had  been  chief  of  a  band  of  smugglers,  to  which  vocation 
he  was  as  wonderfully  adapted  by  nature  as  to  that  which 
he  afterwards  pursued.  He  admitted  this  in  relating  his 
adventures,  and  maintained  that  smuggling  and  police 
service  had  many  points  of  similarity,  since  the  great  art  of 
smuggling  was  to  know  how  to  evade,  while  that  of  a  spy 
was  to  know  how  to  seek. 

He  inspired  such  terror  in  the  Viennese  that  he  was 
equal  to  a  whole  army-corps  in  keeping  them  in  subjection. 
His  quick  and  penetrating  glance,  his  air  of  resolution  and 
severity,  the  abruptness  of  his  step  and  gestures,  his  terrible 
voice,  and  his  appearance  of  great  strength,  fully  justified 
his  reputation ;  and  his  adventures  furnish  ample  materials 
for  a  romance.  During  the  first  campaigns  of  Germany, 
being  charged  with  a  message  from  the  French  government 


CHARLES   SULMETTER.  217 

to  one  of  the  most  prominent  persons  in  the  Austrian 
army,  he  passed  among  the  enemy  disguised  as  a  German 
peddler,  furnished  with  regular  passports,  and  provided 
with  a  complete  stock  of  diamonds  and  jewelry.  He  was 
betrayed,  arrested,  and  searched;  and  the  letter  concealed 
in  the  double  bottom  of  a  gold  box  was  found,  and  very 
foolishly  read  before  him.  He  was  tried  and  condemned  to 
death,  and  delivered  to  the  soldiers  by  whom  he  was  to  be 
executed ;  but  as  night  had  arrived  by  this  time,  they  post- 
poned his  execution  till  morning.  He  recognized  among 
his  guards  a  French  deserter,  talked  with  him,  and  prom- 
ised him  a  large  sum  of  money :  he  had  wine  brought,  drank 
with  the  soldiers,  intoxicated  them,  and  disguised  in  one  of 
their  coats,  escaped  with  the  Frenchman.  Before  re-enter- 
ing the  camp,  however,  he  found  means  to  inform  the 
person  for  whom  the  letter  was  intended,  of  its  contents, 
and  of  what  had  happened. 

Countersigns  difficult  to  remember  were  often  given  in 
the  army  in  order  to  attract  the  soldiers'  attention  more 
closely.  One  day  the  word  was  Pericles,  Persepolis ;  and 
a  captain  of  the  guard  who  had  a  better  knowledge  of  how 
to  command  a  charge  than  of  Greek  history  and  geography, 
not  hearing  it  distinctly,  gave  as  the  countersign,  perce 
fee/Use,  which  mistake  furnished  much  amusement.  The 
old  captain  was  not  at  all  angry,  and  said  that  after  all  he 
was  not  very  far  wrong. 

The  secretary  of  General  Andreossy,  Governor  of 
Vienna,  had  an  unfortunate  passion  for  gambling ;  and 
finding  that  he  did  not  gain  enough  to  pay  his  debts,  sold 
himself  to  the  enemy.  His  correspondence  was  seized  ;  he 
admitted  his  treachery,  and  was  condemned  to  death,  and 


218  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

in  confronting  death  evinced  astonishing  self-possession. 
"  Come  nearer,"  said  he  to  the  soldiers  who  were  to  shoot, 
"  so  that  you  may  see  me  better,  and  I  will  have  less  to 
suffer." 

In  one  of  his  excursions  in  the  environs  of  Vienna,  the 
Emperor  met  a  very  young  conscript  who  was  rejoining  his 
corps.  He  stopped  him,  asked  his  name,  his  age,  regiment, 
and  country.  "Monsieur,"  said  the  soldier,  who  did  not 
know  hini,  "  my  name  is  Martin ;  I  am  seventeen  years  old, 
and  from  the  Upper  Pyrenees."  —  "  You  are  a  Frenchman, 
then?"  —  "Yes,  Monsieur." — "Ah,  you  are  a  miserable 
Frenchman.  Disarm  this  man,  and  hang  him!"  —  "Yes, 
you  fool,  I  am  French,"  repeated  the  conscript;  "and 
vive  VEmpereur!"  His  Majesty  was  much  amused;  the 
conscript  was  undeceived,  congratulated,  and  hastened  to 
rejoin  his  comrades,  with  the  promise  of  a  reward,  —  a 
promise  which  the  Emperor  was  not  slow  to  perform. 

Two  or  three  days  before  his  departure  from  Schoen- 
brunn,  the  Emperor  again  came  near  being  assassinated. 
This  time  the  attack  was  to  have  been  made  by  a  woman. 

The  Countess at  this  time  was  well  known,  both 

on  account  of  her  astonishing  beauty  and  the  scandal  of 
her  liaisons  with  Lord  Paget,1  the  English  ambassador. 

It  would  be  hard  to  find  words  which  would  truthfully 
describe  the  grace  and  charms  of  this  lady,  whom  the  best 
society  of  Vienna  admitted  only  with  the  greatest  repug- 
nance, but  who  consoled  herself  for  their  scorn  by  receiving 
at  her  own  house  the  most  brilliant  part  of  the  French  army. 

1  Henry  William  Paget,  afterward  Lord  Anglesey,  British  statesman 
and  general,  born  1768,  served  in  Holland  and  Spain,  lost  his  leg  at  Waterloo, 
died  1854.  —  Trans. 


ATTEMPTED   ASSASSINATION.  219 

An  army  contractor  conceived  the  idea  of  procuring 
this  lady  for  the  Emperor,  and,  without  informing  his 
Majesty,  made  propositions  to  the  countess  through  one 
of  his  friends,  a  cavalry  officer  attached  to  the  military 
police  of  the  town  of  Vienna. 

The  cavalry  officer  thought  he  was  representing  his 
Majesty,  and  in  good  faith  said  to  the  countess  that  his 
Majesty  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  see  her  at  Schoen- 
brunn.  One  morning,  accordingly,  he  made  propositions 
for  that  evening,  which,  appearing  somewhat  abrupt  to  the 
countess,  she  did  not  decide  at  once,  but  demanded  a  day 
for  reflection,  adding  that  she  must  have  good  proof  that 
the  Emperor  was  really  sincere  in  this  matter.  The  officer 
protested  his  sincerity,  promised,  moreover,  to  give  every 
proof  she  required,  and  made  an  appointment  for  that  even- 
ing. Having  given  the  contractor  an  account  of  his  nego- 
tiation, the  latter  gave  orders  that  a  carriage,  escorted  by 
the  cavalry  officer,  should  be  ready  for  the  countess  on  the 
evening  indicated.  At  the  appointed  hour  the  officer  re- 
turned to  the  countess,  expecting  her  to  accompany  him, 
but  she  begged  him  to  return  next  day,  saying  that  she 
had  not  yet  decided,  and  needed  the  night  for  longer  reflec- 
tion. At  the  officer's  solicitations  she  decided,  however, 
and  appointed  the  next  day,  giving  her  word  of  honor  to 
be  ready  at  the  appointed  hour. 

The  carriage  was  then  sent  away,  and  ordered  for  the 
next  evening  at  the  same  hour.  This  time  the  contractor's 
envoy  found  the  countess  well  disposed ;  she  received  him 
gajdy,  eagerly  even,  and  told  him  that  she  had  given  orders 
in  regard  to  her  affairs  as  if  she  were  going  on  a  journey  ; 
then,  regarding  him  fixedly,  said,  tutoying  him,  "  You  may 


220  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

return  in  an  hour  and  I  will  be  ready;  I  will  go  to  him, 
you  may  rely  upon  it.  Yesterday  I  had  business  to  finish, 
but  to-day  I  am  free.  If  you  are  a  good  Austrian,  you  will 
prove  it  to  me;  you  know  how  much  harm  he  has  done 
our  country !  This  evening  our  country  will  be  avenged  ! 
Come  for  me ;   do  not  fail !  " 

The  cavalry  officer,  frightened  at  such  a  confidence 
as  this,  was  unwilling  to  accept  the  responsibility,  and  re- 
peated everything  at  the  chateau ;  in  return  for  which  the 
Emperor  rewarded  him  generously,  urged  him  for  his  own 
sake  not  to  see  the  countess  again,  and  expressly  forbade 
his  having  anything  more  to  do  with  the  matter.  All 
these  -dangers  in  no  wise  •  depressed  the  Emperor ;  and  he 
had  a  habit  of  saying,  "What  have  I  to  fear?  I  cannot 
be  assassinated;  I  can  die  only  on  the  field  of  battle." 
But  even  on  the  field  of  battle  he  took  no  care  of  him- 
self, and  at  Essling,  for  example,  exposed  himself  like  a 
chief  of  battalion  who  wants  to  be  a  colonel ;  bullets  slew 
those  in  front,  behind,  beside  him,  but  he  did  not  budge. 
It  was  then  that  a  terrified  general  cried,  "  Sire,  if  your 
Majesty  does  not  retire,  it  will  be  necessary  for  me  to  have 
you  carried  off  by  my  grenadiers."  This  anecdote  proves 
whether  the  Emperor  took  any  precautions  in  regard  to 
himself.  The  signs  of  exasperation  manifested  by  the  in- 
habitants of  Vienna  made  him  very  watchful,  however,  for 
the  safety  of  his  troops,  and  he  expressly  forbade  their 
leaving  their  cantonments  in  the  evening.  His  Majesty 
was  afraid  for  them. 

The  chateau  of  Schoenbrunn  was  the  rendezvous  of  all 
the  illustrious  savants  of  Germany ;  and  no  new  work,  no 
curious  invention,  appeared,  but  the  Emperor  immediately 


AT  SCHOENBRUNN.  221 

gave  orders  to  have  the  author  presented  to  him.  It  was 
thus  that  M.  Maekel,  the  famous  inventor  of  metronomy, 
was  allowed  the  honor  of  exhibiting  before  his  Majesty- 
several  of  his  own  inventions.  The  Emperor  admired  the 
artificial  limbs  intended  to  replace  more  comfortably  and 
satisfactorily  than  wooden  ones  those  carried  off  by  balls, 
and  gave  him  orders  to  have  a  wagon  constructed  to  con- 
vey the  wounded  from  the  field  of  battle.  This  wagon 
was  to  be  of  such  a  kind  that  it  could  be  folded  up  and 
easily  carried  behind  men  on  horseback,  who  accompanied 
the  army,  such  as  surgeons,  aides,  servants,  etc.  M.  Mael- 
zel  had  also  built  an  automaton  known  throughout  Europe 
under  the  name  of  the  chessplayer,  which  he  brought  to 
Schoenbrunn  to  show  to  his  Majesty,  and  set  it  up  in  the 
apartments  of  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel.  The  Emperor 
visited  the  Prince ;  and  I,  in  company  with  several  other 
persons,  accompanied  him,  and  found  this  automaton  seated 
before  a  table  on  which  the  chessmen  were  arranged. 
His  Majesty  took  a  chair,  and  seating  himself  in  front  of 
the  automaton,  said,  with  a  laugh,  "Come,  my  comrade, 
we  are  ready."  The  automaton  bowed  and  made  a  sign 
with  his  hand  to  the  Emperor,  as  if  to  tell  him  to  begin, 
upon  which  the  game  commenced.  The  Emperor  made 
two  or  three  moves,  and  intentionally  made  a  wrong  one. 
The  automaton  bowed,  took  the  piece,  and  put  it  in  its 
proper  place.  His  Majesty  cheated  a  second  time;  the 
automaton  bowed  again,  and  took  the  piece.  "  That  is 
right,"  said  the  Emperor;  and  when  he  cheated  a  third 
time,  the  automaton,  passing  his  hand  over  the  chess-board, 
spoiled  the  game. 

The  Emperor  complimented    the   inventor  highly.     As 


222  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

we  left  the  room,  accompanied  by  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel' 
we  found  in  the  antechamber  two  young  girls,  who  pre- 
sented to  the  prince,  in  the  name  of  their  mother,  a  basket 
of  beautiful  fruit.  As  the  prince  welcomed  them  with  an 
air  of  familiarity,  the  Emperor,  curious  to  find  out  who  they 
were,  drew  near  and  questioned  them ;  but  they  did  not 
understand  French.  Some  one  then  told  his  Majesty  that 
these  two  pretty  girls  were  daughters  of  a  good  woman, 
whose  life  Marshal  Berthier  had  saved  in  1805.  On  this 
occasion  he  was  alone  on  horseback,  the  cold  was  terrible, 
and  the  ground  covered  with  snow,  when  he  perceived, 
lying  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  a  woman  who  appeared  to  be 
dying,  and  had  been  seized  with  a  stupor.  The  marshal 
took  her  in  his  arms,  and  placed  her  on  his  horse  with  his 
cloak  wrapped  around  her,  and  thus  conveyed  her  to  her 
home,  where  her  daughters  were  mourning  her  absence.  He 
left  without  making  himself  known;  but  they  recognized 
him  at  the  capture  of  Vienna,  and  every  week  the  two 
sisters  came  to  see  their  benefactor,  bringing  him  flowers 
or  fruit  as  a  token  of  their  gratitude. 


EXCURSION   TO  RAAB.  223 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

Excursion  to  Raab. — The  bishop  and  Soliman.  —  M.  Jardin's  mistake. — 
Sympathy  of  the  Emperor.  —  A  painful  duty.  —  Chouans  of  Normandy. 

—  The  female  brigand.  —  Heart-rending  scene.  —  Conjugal  tenderness. 

—  Despair  and  madness.  —  Appointment  for  a  hunt  with  the  Archduke 
Charles.  —  Departure  from  Schoenbrunn.  —  Arrival  at  Passau.  —  The 
widow  of  a  German  physician.  —  Terror  of  the  inhabitants  of  Augsburg. 

—  Kindness  of  General  Lecourbe.  —  A  grenadier's  act  of  humanity. — 
Maternal  despair  and  joy.  —  The  Emperor's  rapid  journey. — Arrival  at 
Fontainehleau. — The  Emperor's  ill-humor. — The  Emperor's  partiality 
for  the  manufactures  of  Lyons. — A  forced  walk  of  his  Majesty. — The 
Emperor's  harsh  welcome  to  the  Empress.  —  Josephine's  tears.  —  The  Em- 
peror's reparation. 

Towards  the  end  of  September  the  Emperor  made  a 
journey  to  Raab;  and,  as  he  was  mounting  his  horse  to 
return  to  his  residence  at  Schoenbrunn,  he  saw  the  bishop 
a  few  steps  from  him.  "Is  not  that  the  bishop?  "  said  he 
to  M.  Jardin,  who  was  holding  his  horse's  head.  "  No, 
Sire,  it  is  Soliman."  —  "I  asked  you  if  that  was  not  the 
bishop,"  repeated  his  Majesty,  pointing  to  the  prelate. 
M.  Jardin,  intent  on  business,  and  thinking  only  of  the 
Emperor's  horse  which  bore  the  name  of  Bishop,  again  re- 
plied, "  Sire,  you  forget  that  you  rode  him  on  the  last 
relay."  The  Emperor  now  perceived  the  mistake,  and 
broke  into  a  laugh.  I  was  witness  at  Wagram  of  an  act 
which  furnished  a  fine  illustration  of  the  Emperor's  kind- 
ness of  heart  and  consideration  for  others,  of  which  I  have 
already  given  several  instances ;  for,  although  in  the  one  I 
shall  now  relate,  he  was  forced  to  refuse  an  act  of  clemency, 


224  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

his  very  refusal  challenges  admiration  as  an  exhibition  of 
the  generosity  and  greatness  of  his  soul. 

A  very  rich  woman,  named  Madame  de  Combray,  who 
lived  near  Caen,  allowed  her  chateau  to  be  occupied  by  a 
band  of  royalists,  who  seemed  to  think  they  upheld  their 
cause  worthily  by  robbing  diligences  on  the  highway.  She 
constituted  herself  treasurer  of  this  band  of  partisans,  and 
consigned  the  funds  thus  obtained  to  a  pretended  treasurer 
of  Louis  XVIII.  Her  daughter,  Madame  Aquet,  joined  this 
troop,  and,  dressed  in  men's  clothing,  showed  most  conspic- 
uous bravery.  Their  exploits,  however,  were  not  of  long 
duration;  and  pursued  and  overcome  by  superior  forces, 
they  were  brought  to  trial,  and  Madame  Aquet  was  con- 
demned to  death  with  her  accomplices.  By  means  of  a 
pretended  illness  she  obtained  a  reprieve,  of  which  she 
availed  herself  to  employ  every  means  in  her  power  to 
obtain  a  pardon,  and  finally,  after  eight  months  of  useless 
supplications,  decided  to  send  her  children  to  Germany  to 
intercede  with  the  Emperor.  Her  physician,  accompanied 
by  her  sister  and  two  daughters,  reached  Schoenbrunn  just 
as  the  Emperor  had  gone  to  visit  the  field  of  Wagram,  and 
for  an  entire  day  awaited  the  Emperor's  return  on  the  steps 
of  the  palace ;  and  these  children,  one  ten,  the  other  twelve, 
years  old,  excited  much  interest.  Notwithstanding  this, 
their  mother's  crime  was  a  terrible  one ;  for  although  in 
political  matters  opinions  may  not  be  criminal,  yet  under 
every  form  of  government  opinions  are  punished,  if  thereby 
one  becomes  a  robber  and  an  assassin.  The  children,  clothed 
in  black,  threw  themselves  at  the  Emperor's  feet,  crying, 
"  Pardon,  pardon,  restore  to  us  our  mother."  The  Emperor 
raised  them  tenderly,  took  the  petition  from  the  hands  of 


THE  CASE  OF  MADAME  AQUET.  225 

the  aunt,  read  every  word  attentively,  then  questioned  the 
physician  with  much  interest,  looked  at  the  children,  hesi- 
tated —  but  just  as  I,  with  all  who  witnessed  this  touching 
scene,  thought  he  was  going  to  pronounce  her  pardon,  he 
recoiled  several  steps,  exclaiming,  "I  cannot  do  it!"  His 
changing  color,  eyes  suffused  with  tears,  and  choking  voice, 
gave  evidence  of  the  struggle  through  which  he  was  passing ; 
and  witnessing  this,  his  refusal  appeared  to  me  an  act  of 
sublime  courage. 

Following  upon  the  remembrance  of  these  violent  crimes, 
so  much  the  more  worthy  of  condemnation  since  they  were 
the  work  of  a  woman,  who,  in  order  to  abandon  herself  to 
them,  was  forced  to  begin  by  trampling  under  foot  all  the 
gentle  and  modest  virtues  of  her  sex,  I  find  recorded  in 
my  notes  an  act  of  fidelity  and  conjugal  tenderness  which 
well  deserved  a  better  result.  The  wife  of  an  infantry 
colonel,  unwilling  to  be  parted  from  her  husband,  followed 
the  march  of  his  regiment  in  a  coach,  and  on  the  d-dys  of 
battle  mounted  a  horse  and  kept  herself  as  near  as  possible 
to  the  line.  At  Friedland  she  saw  the  colonel  fall,  pierced 
by  a  ball,  hastened  to  him  with  her  servant,  carried  him 
from  the  ranks,  and  bore  him  away  in  an  ambulance,  though 
too  late,  for  he  was  already  dead.  Her  grief  was  silent, 
and  no  one  saw  her  shed  a  tear.  She  offered  her  purse  to  a 
surgeon,  and  begged  him  to  embalm  her  husband's  corpse, 
which  was  done  as  well  as  possible  under  the  circumstances  ; 
and  she  then  had  the  corpse  wrapped  in  bandages,  placed 
in  a  box  with  a  lid,  and  put  in  a  carriage,  and  seating 
herself  beside  it,  the  heart-broken  widow  set  out  on  her 
return  to  France.  A  grief  thus  repressed  soon  affected 
her  mind ;  and  at  each  halt  she  made  on  the  journey,  she 


226  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

shut  herself  up  with  her  precious  burden,  drew  the  corpse 
from  its  box,  placed  it  on  a  bed,  uncovered  its  face,  and 
lavished  on  it  the  most  tender  caresses,  talking  to  it  as  if 
it  was  living,  and  slept  beside  it.  In  the  morning  she  re- 
placed her  husband  in  the  box,  and,  resuming  her  gloomy 
silence,  continued  her  route.  For  several  days  her  secret 
remained  unknown,  and  was  discovered  only  a  few  days 
before  she  reached  Paris. 

The  body  had  not  been  embalmed  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  preserve  it  long  from  decay ;  and  this  soon  reached  such 
a  point,  that,  when  she  arrived  at  an  inn,  the  horrible  odor 
from  the  box  aroused  suspicion,  and  the  unhappy  wife's 
room  was  entered  that  evening,  and  she  was  found  clasping 
in  her  arms  the  already  sadly  disfigured  corpse  of  her  hus- 
band. "Silence,"  she  cried  to  the  frightened  innkeeper. 
"  My  husband  is  asleep,  why  do  you  come  to  disturb  his  glo- 
rious rest?  "  With  much  difficulty  the  corpse  was  removed 
from  the  arms  of  the  insane  woman  who  had  guarded  it 
with  such  jealous  care,  and  she  was  conveyed  to  Paris, 
where  she  afterward  died,  without  recovering  her  reason 
for  an  instant. 

There  was  much  astonishment  at  the  chateau  of  Schoen- 
brunn  because  the  Archduke  Charles  never  appeared  there ; 
for  he  was  known  to  be  much  esteemed  by  the  Emperor, 
who  never  spoke  of  him  except  with  the  highest  considera- 
tion. I  am  entirely  ignorant  what  motives  prevented  the 
prince  from  coming  to  Schoenbrunn,  or  the  Emperor  from 
visiting  him ;  but,  nevertheless,  it  is  a  fact,  that,  two  or  three 
days  before  his  departure  from  Munich,  his  Majesty  one 
morning  attended  a  hunting-party,  composed  of  several 
officers  and  myself;  and  that  we  stopped  at  a  hunting-box 


DEPARTURE  FROM  SCHOEXBRUXX.  2_!7 

called  la  Venerie  on  the  road  between  Vienna  and  Bukus- 
dorf,  and  on  our  arrival  we  found  the  Archduke  Charles 
awaiting  his  Majesty,  attended  by  a  suite  of  only  two  per- 
sons. The  Emperor  and  the  archduke  remained  for  a  long 
while  alone  in  the  pavilion ;  and  we  did  not  return  to  Schoen- 
brunn  until  late  in  the  evening. 

On  the  16th  of  October  at  noon  the  Emperor  left  this 
residence  with  his  suite,  composed  of  the  grand  marshal, 
the  Duke  of  Frioul ;  Generals  Rapp,  Mouton,  Savary,  Nan- 
souty,  Durosnel 2  and  Lebrun ;  of  three  chamberlains ;  of 
M.  Labbe,  chief  of  the  topographical  bureau ;  of  M.  de 
Meneval,  his  Majesty's  secretary,  and  M.  Yvan ;  and  accom- 
panied by  the  Duke  of  Bassano,  and  the  Duke  of  ('adore, 
then  minister  of  foreign  relations. 

We  arrived  at  Passau  on  the  morning  of  the  18th ; 
and  the  Emperor  passed  the  entire  day  in  visiting  Forts 
Maximilian  and  Napoleon,  and  also  seven  or  eight  redoubts 
whose  names  recalled  the  principal  battles  of  the  campaign. 
More  than  twelve  thousand  men  were  working  on  these 
important  fortifications,  to  whom  his  Majesty's  visit  was  a 
fete.  That  evening  we  resumed  our  journey,  and  two  days 
after  we  were  at  Munich. 

At  Augsburg,  on  leaving  the  palace  of  the  Elector  of 
Treves,  the  Emperor  found  in  his  path  a  woman  kneeling 
in  the  dust,  surrounded  by  four  children ;  he  raised  her  up 
and  inquired  kindly  what  she  desired.  The  poor  woman, 
without  replying,  handed  his  Majesty  a  petition  written  in 
German,  which  General  Rapp  translated.  She  was  the 
widow  of  a  German  physician  named  Buiting,   who  had 

1  Antoine  Jean  Auguste  Henri  Durosnel,  born  in  Paris,  1771 ;  in  1809 
general  of  division  and  aide-de-camp  to  Napoleon ;  peer,  1837 ;  died  1849. 


228  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

died  a  short  time  since,  and  was  well  known  in  the  army 
from  his  faithfulness  in  ministering  to  the  wounded  French 
soldiers  when  by  chance  any  fell  into  his  hands.  The 
Elector  of  Treves,  and  many  persons  of  the  Emperor's 
suite,  supported  earnestly  this  petition  of  Madame  Buiting, 
whom  her  husband's  death  had  reduced  almost  to  poverty, 
and  in  which  she  besought  the  Emperor's  aid  for  the  chil- 
dren of  this  German  physician,  whose  attentions  had  saved 
the  lives  of  so  many  of  his  brave  soldiers.  His  Majesty 
gave  orders  to  pay  the  petitioner  the  first  year's  salary  of 
a  pension  which  he  at  once  allowed  her;  and  when  General 
Rapp  had  informed  the  widow  of  the  Emperor's  action,  the 
poor  woman  fainted  with  a  cry  of  joy. 

I  witnessed  another  scene  which  was  equally  as  touch- 
ing. When  the  Emperor  was  on  the  march  to  Vienna, 
the  inhabitants  of  Augsburg,  who  had  been  guilty  of  some 
acts  of  cruelty  towards  the  Bavarians,  trembled  lest  his 
Majesty  should  take  a  terrible  revenge  on  them ;  and 
this  terror  was  at  its  height  when  it  was  learned  that  a 
part  of  the  French  army  was  to  pass  through  the  town. 

A  young  woman  of  remarkable  beauty,  only  a  few 
months  a  widow,  had  retired  to  this  place  with  her  child 
in  the  hope  of  being  more  quiet  than  anywhere  else,  but, 
frightened  by  the  approach  of  the  troops,  fled  with  her 
child  in  her  arms.  But,  instead  of  avoiding  our  soldiers 
as  she  intended,  she  left  Augsburg  by  the  wrong  gate,  and 
fell  into  the  midst  of  the  advance  posts  of  the  French 
army.  Fortunately,  she  encountered  General  Lecourbe, 
and  trembling,  and  almost  beside  herself  with  terror,  con- 
jured him  on  her  knees  to  save  her  honor,  even  at  the  ex 
pense  of  her  life,  and  immediately  swooned  away.     Moved 


THE  LOST  CHILD.  229 

even  to  tears,  the  general  showed  her  every  attention, 
ordered  a  safe-conduct  given  her,  and  an  escort  to  accom- 
pany her  to  a  neighboring  town,  where  she  had  stated  that 
several  of  her  relatives  lived.  The  order  to  march  was 
given  at  the  same  instant ;  and,  in  the  midst  of  the  general 
commotion  which  ensued,  the  child  was  forgotten  by  those 
who  escorted  the  mother,  and  left  in  the  outposts.  A 
brave  grenadier  took  charge  of  it,  and,  ascertaining  where 
the  poor  mother  had  been  taken,  pledged  himself  to  restore 
it  to  her  at  the  earliest  possible  moment,  unless  a  ball 
should  carry  him  off  before  the  return  of  the  army.  He 
made  a  leather  pocket,  in  which  he  carried  his  young  pro- 
tege, arranged  so  that  it  was  sheltered  from  the  weather. 
Each  time  he  went  into  battle  the  good  grenadier  dug  a 
hole  in  the  ground,  in  which  he  placed  the  little  one,  and 
returned  for  it  when  the  battle  was  over;  and  though  his 
comrades  ridiculed  him  the  first  day,  they  could  not  but 
fail  to  admire  the  nobility  of  his  conduct.  The  child  es- 
caped all  danger,  thanks  to  the  incessant  care  of  its  adopted 
father;  and,  when  the  march  to  Munich  was  again  begun, 
the  grenadier,  who  was  singularly  attached  to  the  little 
waif,  almost  regretted  to  see  the  moment  draw  near  when 
he  must  restore  it  to  its  mother. 

It  may  easily  be  understood  what  this  poor  woman  suf- 
fered after  losing  her  child.  She  besought  and  entreated 
the  soldiers  who  escorted  her  to  return  ;  but  they  had  their 
orders,  which  nothing  could  cause  them  to  infringe.  Im- 
mediately on  her  arrival  she  set  out  again  on  her  return  to 
Augsburg,  making  inquiries  in  all  directions,  but  could 
obtain  no  information  of  her  son,  and  at  last  being  con- 
vinced that  he  was  dead,  wept  bitterly  for  him.     She  had 


230  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

mourned  thus  for  nearly  six  months,  when  the  army  re- 
passed Augsburg ;  and,  while  at  work  alone  in  her  room 
one  day,  she  was  told  that  a  soldier  wished  to  see  her,  and 
had  something  precious  to  commit  to  her  care ;  but  he  was 
unable  to  leave  his  corps,  and  must  beg  her  to  meet  him  on 
the  public  square.  Little  suspecting  the  happiness  in  store 
for  her,  she  sought  the  grenadier,  and  the  latter  leaving  the 
ranks,  pulled  the  "  little  good  man  "  out  of  his  pocket,  and 
placed  him  in  the  arms  of  the  poor  mother,  who  could  not 
believe  the  evidence  of  her  own  eyes.  Thinking  that  this 
lady  was  probably  not  rich,  this  excellent  man  had  collected 
a  sum  of  money,  which  he  had  placed  in  one  of  the  pockets 
of  the  little  one's  coat. 

The  Emperor  remained  only  a  short  time  at  Munich; 
and  the  day  of  his  arrival  a  courier  was  sent  in  haste  by 
the  grand  marshal  to  M.  de  Lucay  to  inform  him  that  his 
Majesty  would  be  at  Fontainebleau  on  the  27th  of  October, 
in  the  evening  probably,  and  that  the  household  of  the 
Emperor,  as  well  as  that  of  the  Empress,  should  be  at  this 
residence  to  receive  his  Majesty.  But,  instead  of  arriving 
on  the  evening  of  the  27th,  the  Emperor  had  traveled 
with  such  speed,  that,  on  the  26th  at  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  he  was  at  the  gates  of  the  palace  of  Fontainebleau ; 
and  consequently,  with  the  exception  of  the  grand  marshal, 
a  courier,  and  the  gate-keeper  of  Fontainebleau,  he  found 
no  one  to  receive  him  on  his  descent  from  the  carriage. 
This  mischance,  which  was  very  natural,  since  it  had  been 
impossible  to  foresee  an  advance  of  more  than  a  day  in  the 
time  appointed,  nevertheless  incensed  the  Emperor  greatly. 
He  was  regarding  every  one  around  him  as  if  searching  for 
some  one  to  scold,  when,  finding  that  the  courier  was  pre- 


RETURN   TO  FONTAINEBLEAU.  231 

paring  to  alight  from  his  horse,  on  which  he  was  more 
stuck  than  seated,  he  said  to  him :  "  You  can  rest  to-mor- 
row ;  hasten  to  Saint-Cloud  and  announce  my  arrival,"  and 
the  poor  courier  recommenced  his  furious  gallop. 

This  accident,  which  vexed  his  Majesty  so  greatly,  could 
not  be  considered  the  fault  of  any  one ;  for  by  the  orders 
of  the  grand  marshal,  received  from  the  Emperor,  M. 
de  Lucay  had  commanded  their  Majesties'  service  to  be 
ready  on  the  morning  of  the  next  day.  Consequently,  that 
evening  was  the  earliest  hour  at  which  the  service  could 
possibly  be  expected  to  arrive;  and  he  was  compelled  to 
wait  until  then. 

During  this  time  of  waiting,  the  Emperor  employed  him- 
self in  visiting  the  new  apartments  that  had  been  added  to 
the  chateau.  The  building  in  the  court  of  the  Cheval- 
Blanc,  which  had  been  formerly  used  as  a  military  school, 
had  been  restored,  enlarged,  and  decorated  with  extraordi- 
nary magnificence,  and  had  been  turned  entirely  into  apart- 
ments of  honor,  in  order,  as  his  Majesty  said,  to  give 
employment  to  the  manufacturers  of  Lyons,  whom  the  war 
deprived  of  any  outside  market.  After  repeated  prome- 
nades in  all  directions,  the  Emperor  seated  himself  with 
every  mark  of  extreme  impatience,  asking  every  moment 
what  time  it  was,  or  looking  at  his  watch;  and  at  last 
ordered  me  to  prepare  writing  materials,  and  took  his  seat 
all  alone  at  a  little  table,  doubtless  swearing  internally  at 
his  secretaries,  who  had  not  arrived. 

At  five  o'clock  a  carriage  came  from  Saint-Cloud ;  and  as 
the  Emperor  heard  it  roll  into  the  court  he  descended  the 
stairs  rapidly,  and  while  a  footman  was  opening  the  door 
and    lowering   the  steps,   he  said   to  the    persons    inside : 


232  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

" Where  is  the  Empress?"  The  answer  was  given  that 
her  Majesty  the  Empress  would  arrive  in  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  at  most.  "That  is  well,"  said  the  Emperor;  and 
turning  his  back,  quickly  remounted  the  stairs  and  entered 
a  little  study,  where  he  prepared  himself  for  work. 

At  last  the  Empress  arrived,  exactly  at  six  o'clock.  It 
was  now  dark.  The  Emperor  this  time  did  not  go  down ; 
but  listening  until  he  learned  that  it  was  her  Majesty,  con- 
tinued to  write,  without  interrupting  himself  to  go  and  meet 
her.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  acted  in  this  manner. 
The  Empress  found  him  seated  in  the  cabinet.  "Ah!" 
said  his  Majesty,  "  have  you  arrived,  Madame  ?  It  is  well, 
for  I  was  about  to  set  out  for  Saint-Cloud."  And  the 
Emperor,  who  had  simply  lifted  his  eyes  from  his  work  to 
glance  at  her  Majesty,  lowered  them  again,  and  resumed  his 
writing.  This  harsh  greeting  distressed  Josephine  exceed- 
ingly, and  she  attempted  to  excuse  herself;  but  his  Majesty 
replied  in  such  a  manner  as  to  bring  tears  to  her  eyes, 
though  he  afterwards  repented  of  this,  and  begged  pardon 
of  the  Empress,  acknowledging  that  he  had  been  wrong. 


OPINIONS    OF  NAPOLEON'S   DIVOUCE.  233 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Erroneous  opinions  as  to  the  divorce.  —  The  Emperor's  motives.  —  Tender 
attentions.  —  Painful  sacrifice.  —  Courage  and  resignation  of  the  Em- 
press.—  A  disappointed  guest. — The  Emperor's  gayety. — The  King  of 
Saxony  at  Fontainebleau.  —  Friendship  of  the  two  monarchs.  —  Excur- 
sion on  foot  to  the  bridge  of  Jena. — The  eye  of  the  master. — Compli- 
ment of  the  King  of  Saxony  to  his  Majesty.  —  Preoccupation  of  the 
Emperor.  —  Embarrassment  of  the  Emperor  and  Empress.  —  Mutual 
constraint.  —  Sadness  of  the  stay  at  Fontainebleau.  —  The  Emperor's 
dejection.  —  The  30th  of  November.  —  A  mournful  repast. — A  terrible 
scene.  — The  Empress  faints.  —  "Words  uttered  by  the  Emperor.  — Fetes 
given  by  the  city  of  Paris.  —  The  pitiable  condition  of  the  Empress.  — 
Inexpressible  enthusiasm. — The  Emperor's  agitation. — Description  of 
a  grand  imperial  hunt.  —  Arrival  of  Prince  Eugene.  —  His  despair.  — 
Interview  between  the  Emperor  and  the  vice-king. — Touching  words 
of  the  Emperor.  —  Nocturnal  visit  of  Josephine.  —  Josephine's  departure 
for  Malmaison. 

It  is  not,  as  has  been  stated  in  some  Memoirs,  because 
and  as  a  result  of  the  slight  disagreement  which  I  have 
related  above,  that  the  first  idea  of  a  divorce  came  to  his 
Majesty.  The  Emperor  thought  it  necessary  for  the  wel- 
fare of  France  that  he  should  have  an  heir  of  his  own  line  ; 
and  as  it  was  now  certain  that  the  Empress  would  never 
bear  him  one,  he  was  ((impelled  to  think  of  a  divorce.  But 
it  was  by  most  gentle  means,  and  with  every  mark  of  tender 
consideration,  that  he  strove  to  bring  the  Empress  to  this 
pamiTil  sacrifice.  He  had  no  recourse,  as  has  been  said,  to 
either  threats  or  menaces,  for  it  was  to  his  wife's  reason 
that  he  appealed ;  and  her  consent  was  entirely  voluntary. 
I  repeat  that   there  was   no  violence   on   the   part  of    the 


234  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Emperor;  but  there  was  courage,  resignation,  and  submis- 
sion on  that  of  the  Empress.  Her  devotion  to  the  Emperor 
would  have  made  her  submit  to  any  sacrifice,  she  would 
have  given  her  life  for  him;  and  although  this  separation 
might  break  her  own  heart,  she  still  found  consolation  in 
the  thought  that  by  this  means  she  would  save  the  one  she 
loved  more  than  all  beside  from  even  one  cause  of  distress 
or  anxiety.  And  when  she  learned  that  the  King  of  Rome 
was  born,  she  lost  sight  of  her  own  disappointment  in  sym- 
pathizing with  the  happiness  of  her  friend;  for  they  had 
always  treated  each  other  with  all  the  attention  and  respect 
of  the  most  perfect  friendship. 

The  Emperor  had  taken,  during  the  whole  day  of  the 
26th,  only  a  cup  of  chocolate  and  a  little  soup ;  and  I  had 
heard  him  complain  of  hunger  several  times  before  the 
Empress  arrived.  Peace  being  restored,  the  husband  and 
wife  embraced  each  other  tenderly,  and  the  Empress  passed 
on  into  her  apartments  in  order  to  make  her  toilet.  During 
this  time  the  Emperor  received  Messieurs  Decres  and  De 
Montalivet,1  whom  he  had  summoned  in  the  morning  by  a 
mounted  messenger ;  and  about  half-past  seven  the  Empress 
reappeared,  dressed  in  perfect  taste.  In  spite  of  the  cold, 
she  had  had  her  hair  dressed  with  silver  wheat  and  blue 
flowers,  and  wore  a  white  satin  polonaise,  edged  with  swan's 
down,  which  costume  was  exceedingly  becoming.  The 
Emperor  interrupted  his  work  to  regard  her.  "I  did  not 
take  long  at  my  toilet,  did  I  ?  "  said  she,  smiling  ;  where- 
upon his  Majesty,  without  replying,  showed  her  the  clock, 

i  Count  Jean  Pierre  Bachasson  de  Montalivet,  born  near  Sarreguemines, 
1766  ;  counselor  of  state,  1805  ;  minister  of  interior,  1809  ;  peer,  1819  ;  died 
1823.— Trans. 


THE  EMPEROR'S   GAYETY.  235 

then  rose,  gave  her  his  hand,  and  was  about  to  enter  the 
dining-room,  saying  to  Messieurs  De  Montalivet  and  Decres, 
"  I  will  be  with  you  in  five  minutes."  —  "  But,"  said  the 
Empress,  "  these  gentlemen  have  perhaps  not  yet  dined,  as 
they  have  come  from  Paris."  —  "  Ah,  that  is  so  !  "  and  the 
ministers  entered  the  dining-room  with  their  Majesties.  But 
hardly  had  the  Emperor  taken  his  seat,  than  he  rose,  threw 
aside  his  napkin,  and  re-entered  his  cabinet,  where  these 
gentlemen  were  compelled  to  follow  him,  though  much 
against  their  inclinations. 

The  day  ended  better  than  it  had  begun.  In  the  evening 
there  was  a  reception,  not  large,  but  most  agreeable,  at 
which  the  Emperor  was  very  gay,  and  in  excellent  humor, 
and  acted  as  if  anxious  to  efface  the  memory  of  the  little 
scene  with  the  Empress.  Their  Majesties  remained  at  Fon- 
tainebleau  till  the  14th  of  November.  The  King  of  Saxony 
had  arrived  the  evening  before  at  Paris ;  and  the  Emperor, 
who  rode  on  horseback  nearly  all  the  way  from  Fontainebleau 
to  Paris,  repaired  on  his  arrival  to  the  Palace  de  l'filysee. 
The  two  monarchs  appeared  very  agreeably  impressed  with 
each  other,  and  went  in  public  together  almost  every  day, 
and  one  morning  early  left  the  Tuileries  on  foot,  each  ac- 
companied hy  a  single  escort.  I  was  with  the  Emperor. 
They  directed  their  steps,  following  the  course  of  the  stream, 
towards  the  bridge  of  Jena,  the  work  on  which  was  being 
rapidly  carried  to  completion,  and  reached  the  Place  de  la 
Revolution,  where  fifty  or  sixty  persons  collected  with  the 
intention  of  accompanying  the  two  sovereigns  ;  but  as  this 
seemed  to  annoy  the  Emperor,  agents  of  the  police  caused 
them  to  disperse.  When  he  had  reached  the  bridge,  his 
Majesty  examined  the  work  attentively ;   and  finding  some 


236  RECOLLECTIONS    OF  NAPOLEON. 

defects  in  the  construction,  had  the  architect  called,  who 
admitted  the  correctness  of  his  observations,  although,  in 
order  to  convince  him,  the  Emperor  had  to  talk  for  some 
time,  and  often  repeated  the  same  explanations.  His  Maj- 
esty, turning  then  towards  the  King  of  Saxony,  said  to  him, 
"You  see,  my  cousin,  that  the  master's  eye  is  necessary 
everywhere."  —  "  Yes,"  replied  the  King  of  Saxony;  "  espe- 
cially an  eye  so  well  trained  as  your  Majesty's." 

We  had  not  been  long  at  Fontainebleau,  when  I  noticed 
that  the  Emperor  in  the  presence  of  his  august  spouse  was 
preoccupied  and  ill  at  ease.  The  same  uneasiness  was 
visible  on  the  countenance  of  the  Empress ;  and  this  state 
of  constraint  and  mutual  embarrassment  soon  became  suffi- 
ciently evident  to  be  remarked  by  all,  and  rendered  the 
stay  at  Fontainebleau  extremely  sad  and  depressing.  At 
Paris  the  presence  of  the  King  of  Saxony  made  some 
diversion ;  but  the  Empress  appeared  more  unhappy  than 
ever,  which  gave  rise  to  numerous  conjectures,  but  as  for 
me,  I  knew  only  too  well  the  cause  of  it  all.  The  Em- 
peror's brow  became  more  furrowed  with  care  each  day, 
until  the  30th  of  November  arrived. 

On  that  day  the  dinner  was  more  silent  than  ever.  The 
Empress  had  wept  the  whole  day;  and  in  order  to  conceal 
as  far  as  possible  her  pallor,  and  the  redness  of  her  eyes, 
wore  a  large  white  hat  tied  under  her  chin,  the  brim  of 
which  concealed  her  face  entirely.  The  Emperor  sat  in 
silence,  his  eyes  fastened  on  his  plate,  while  from  time 
to  time  convulsive  movements  agitated  his  countenance ; 
and  if  he  happened  to  raise  his  eyes,  glanced  stealthily 
at  the  Empress  with  unmistakable  signs  of  distress.  The 
officers  of  the  household,  immovable  as  statues,  regarded 


JOSEPHINE'S  DESPAIR.  237 

this  painful  and  gloomy  scene  ^yith  sad  anxiety;  while 
the  whole  repast  was  simply  a  form,  as  their  Majesties 
touched  nothing,  and  no  sound  was  heard  but  the  regu- 
lar movement  of  plates  placed  and  carried  away,  varied 
sadly  by  the  monotonous  tones  of  the  household  officers, 
and  the  tinkling  sound  made  by  the  Emperor's  striking 
his  knife  mechanically  on  the  edge  of  his  glass.  Once 
only  his  Majesty  broke  the  silence  by  a  deep  sigh,  fol- 
lowed by  these  words  addressed  to  one  of  the  officers : 
"What  time  is  it?"  An  aimless  question  of  the  Em- 
peror's, it  seemed,  for  he  did  not  hear,  or  at  any  rate 
did  not  seem  to  hear,  the  answer;  but  almost  immediately 
he  rose  from  the  table,  and  the  Empress  followed  him 
with  slow  steps,  and  her  handkerchief  pressed  against  her 
lips  as  if  to  suppress  her  sobs.  Coffee  was  brought,  and, 
according  to  custom,  a  page  presented  the  waiter  to  the 
Empress  that  she  might  herself  pour  it  out;  but  the  Em- 
peror took  it  himself,  poured  the  coffee  in  the  cup,  and 
dissolved  the  sugar,  still  regarding  the  Empress,  who  re- 
mained standing  as  if  struck  with  a  stupor.  He  drank, 
and  returned  the  cup  to  the  page ;  then  gave  a  signal  that 
he  wished  to  be  alone,  and  closed  the  door  of  the  saloon. 
I  remained  outside  seated  by  the  door;  and  soon  no  one 
remained  in  the  dining-room  except  one  of  the  prefects 
of  the  palace,  who  wTalked  up  and  down  with  folded  arms, 
foreseeing,  as  well  as  I,  terrible  events.  At  the  end  of 
a  few  moments  I  heard  cries,  and  sprang  up ;  just  then  the 
Emperor  opened  the  door  quickly,  looked  out,  and  saw 
there  no  one  but  us  two.  The  Empress  lay  on  the  floor, 
screaming  as  if  her  heart  were  breaking :  "  No  ;  you  will 
not  do  it !     You  would  not  kill  me !  "     The  usher  of  the 


238  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

room  had  his  back  turned.  I  advanced  towards  him;  he 
understood,  and  went  out.  His  Majesty  ordered  the  person 
who  was  with  me  to  enter,  and  the  door  was  again  closed. 
I  have  since  learned  that  the  Emperor  requested  him  to 
assist  him  in  carrying  the  Empress  to  her  apartment^ 
"She   has,"  he   said,   "a  violent  nervous   attack,  and  her 

condition  requires  most  prompt  attention."    M.  de  B 

with  the  Emperor's  assistance  raised  the  Empress  in  his 
arms;  and  the  Emperor,  taking  a  lamp  from  the  mantel, 
lighted  M.  de  B along  the  passage  from  which  as- 
cended the  little  staircase  leading  to  the  apartments  of 
the  Empress.  This  staircase  was  so  narrow,  that  a  man 
with  such  a  burden  could  not  go  down  without  great 
risk  of  falling;  and  M.  de  B ,  having  called  his  Maj- 
esty's attention  to  this,  he  summoned  the  keeper  of  the 
portfolio,  whose  duty  it  was  to  be  always  at  the  door  of 
the  Emperor's  cabinet  which  opened  on  this  staircase,  and 
gave  him  the  light,  which  was  no  longer  needed,  as  the 
lamps  had  just  been  lighted.  His  Majesty  passed  in  front 
of  the  keeper,  who  still  held  the  light,  and  carrying  the 
feet  of  the  Empress  himself,  descended  the  staircase  safely 

with  M.  de  B ;   and  they  thus  reached  the  bedroom. 

The  Emperor  rang  for  her  women,  and  when  they  en- 
tered, retired  with  tears  in  his  eyes  and  every  sign  of 
the  deepest  emotion.     This  scene  affected  him  so  deeply  that 

he  said  to  M.  de  B in  a  trembling,  broken  tone,  some 

words  which  he  must  never  reveal  under  any  circum- 
stances.    The    Emperor's    agitation  must  have  been  very 

great   for   him    to   have    informed    M.    de    B of   the 

cause  of  her  Majesty's  despair,  and  to  have  told  him  that 
the  interests  of  France  and  of  the  Imperial  Dynasty  had 


JOSEPHINE'S  ILLNESS.  239 

done  violence  to  his  heart,  and  the  divorce  had  become  a 
dutvj  deplorable  and  painful,  but  none  the  less  a  duty. 

Queen  Hortense  and  M.  Corvisart  soon  reached  the 
Enapress,  who  passed  a  miserable  night.  The  Emperor 
also  did  not  sleep,  and  rose  many  times  to  ascertain  Jose- 
phine's condition.  During  the  whole  night  her  Majesty 
did  not  utter  a  word.     I  have  never  witnessed  such  grief. 

Immediately  after  this,  the  King  of  Naples,  the  King 
of  Westphalia,  the  King  of  Wiirtemberg,  and  the  king  and 
princesses  of  the  Imperial  family,  arrived  at  Paris  to  be 
present  at  the  fetes  given  by  the  city  of  Paris  to  his 
Majesty  in  commemoration  of  the  victories  and  the  paci- 
fication of  Germany,  and  at  the  same  time  to  celebrate 
the  anniversary  of  the  coronation.  The  session  of  the 
legislative  corps  was  also  about  to  open.  It  was  neces- 
sary, in  the  interval  between  the  scene  which  I  have  just 
described  and  the  day  on  which  the  decree  of  divorce  was 
signed,  that  the  Empress  should  be  present  on  all  these 
occasions,  and  attend  all  these  fetes,  under  the  eyes  of  an 
immense  crowd  of  people,  at  a  time  when  solitude  alone 
could  have  in  any  degree  alleviated  her  sorrow;  it  was  also 
necessary  that  she  should  cover  up  her  face  with  rouge 
in  order  to  conceal  her  pallor  and  the  signs  of  a  month 
passed  in  tears.  What  tortures  she  endured,  and  how 
much  she  must  have  bewailed  this  elevation,  of  which 
nothing  remained  to  her  but  the  necessity  of  concealing 
her  feelings  ! 

On  the  3d  of  December  their  Majesties  repaired  to 
Notre  Dame,  where  a  Te  Deum  was  sung;  after  which  the 
Imperial  cortege  marched  to  the  palace  of  the  Corps  Legis- 
latif,  and  the  opening  of  the  session  was  held  with  unusual 


240  &ECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

magnificence.  The  Emperor  took  his  place  amidst  inex- 
pressible enthusiasm,  and  never  had  his  appearance  excited 
such  bursts  of  applause :  even  the  Empress  was  more  cheer- 
ful for  an  instant,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  these  proofs  of 
affection  for  one  who  was  soon  to  be  no  longer  her  hus- 
band; but  when  he  began  to  speak  she  relapsed  into  her 
gloomy  reflections. 

It  was  almost  five  o'clock  when  the  cortege  returned  to 
the  Tuileries,  and  the  Imperial  banquet  was  to  take  place 
at  half-past  seven.  During  this  interval,  a  reception  of  the 
ambassadors  was  held,  after  which  the  guests  passed  on  to 
the  gallery  of  Diana. 

The  Emperor  held  a  grand  dining  in  his  coronation 
robes,  and  wearing  his  plumed  hat,  which  he  did  not  re- 
move for  an  instant.  He  ate  more  than  was  his  custom, 
notwithstanding  the  distress  under  which  he  seemed  to  be 
laboring,  glanced  around  and  behind  him  every  moment, 
causing  the  grand  chamberlain  continually  to  bend  forward 
to  receive  orders  which  he  did  not  give.  The  Empress  was 
seated  in  front  of  him,  most  magnificently  dressed  in  an 
embroidered  robe  blazing  with  diamonds ;  but  her  face 
expressed  even  more  suffering  than  in  the  morning. 

On  the  right  of  the  Emperor  was  seated  the  King  of 
Saxony,  in  a  white  uniform  with  red  facings,  and  collar 
richly  embroidered  in  silver,  wearing  a  false  cue  of  pro- 
digious length. 

By  the  side  of  the  King  of  Saxony  was  the  King  of 
Westphalia,  Jerome  Bonaparte,  in  a  white  satin  tunic, 
and  girdle  ornamented  with  pearls  and  diamonds,  which 
reached  almost  up  to  his  arms.  His  neck  was  bare  and 
white,  and  he  wore  no  whiskers    and   very  little    beard; 


AN  IMPERIAL  BANQUET.  241 

a  collar  of  magnificent  lace  fell  over  his  shoulders ;  and  a 
black  velvet  cap  ornamented  with  white  plumes,  which  was 
the  most  elegant  in  the  assembly,  completed  this  costume. 
Next  him  was  the  King  of  Wurtemberg  with  his  enormous 
stomach,  which  forced  him  to  sit  some  distance  from  the 
table  ;  and  the  King  of  Naples,  in  so  magnificent  a  costume 
that  it  might  almost  be  considered  extravagant,  covered 
with  crosses  and  stars,  Avho  played  with  his  fork, .  without 
gating  or  drinking. 

On  the  right  of  the  Empress  was  Madame  Mere,  the 
Queen  of  Westphalia,  the  Princess  Borghese,  and  Queen 
(lortense,  pale  as  the  Empress,  but  rendered  only  more 
beautiful  by  her  sadness,  her  face  presenting  a  striking 
contrast  on  this  occasion  to  that  of  the  Princess  Pauline, 
who  never  appeared  in  better  spirits.  Princess  Pauline 
wore  an  exceedingly  handsome  toilet;  but  this  did  not 
increase  the  charms  of  her  person  nearly  so  much  as  that 
worn  by  the  Queen  of  Holland,  winch,  though  simple,  was 
elegant  and  full  of  taste. 

Next  day  a  magnificent  fete  was  held  at  the  Hotel  de 
Ville,  where  the  Empress  displayed  her  accustomed  grace 
and  kind  consideration.  This  was  the  last  time  she  ap- 
peared on  occasions  of  ceremony. 

A  few  days  after  all  these  rejoicings,  the  ViceJdllg  of 
Italy,  Eugene  de  Beauharnais,  arrived,  and  learned  from 
the  lips  of  the  Empress  herself  the  terrible  measure  which 
circumstances  were  about  to  render  necessary.  This  news 
overcame  him:  agitated  and  despairing,  he  sought  his  Maj- 
esty ;  and,  as  if  he  could  not  believe  what  he  had  just 
heard,  asked  the  Emperor  if  it  was  true  that  a  divorce  was 
about  to^take  place.     The  Emperor  made  a  sign  in  the 


242  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

affirmative,  and,  with  deep  grief  depicted  on  his  counte- 
nance, held  out  his  hand  to  his  adopted  son.  u  Sire,  allow 
me  to  quit  your  service." — ""What!"'—"  Yes,  Sire;  the  son 
of  one  who  is  no  longer  Empress  cannot  remain  vice-king. 
I  wish  to  accompany  my  mother  to  her  retreat,  and  console 
her."  —  "  Do  you  wish  to  leave  me,  Eugene  ?  You  ?  Ah, 
yon  do  not  know  h<  >w  imperious  are  the  reasons  which  force 
me  to  pursue  such  a  course.  And  if  I  obtain  this  son,  the 
object  of  my  most  cherished  wishes,  this  son  who  is  so 
necessary  to  me,  who  will  take  my  place  with  him  when  I 
shall  be  absent?  Who  will  be  a  father  to  him  when  I  "die? 
Who  will  rear  him,  and  who  will  make  a  man  of  him?" 
Tears  filled  the  Emperor's  eyes  as  he  pronounced  these 
words ;  he  again  took  Eugene's  hand,  and  drawing  him 
to  his  arms,  embraced  him  tenderly.  I  did  not  hear  the 
remainder  of  this  interesting  conversation. 

•  At  last  the  fatal  day  arrived ;  it  was  the  16th  cf  De- 
cember. The  Imperial  family  were  assembled  in  ceremo- 
nial costume,  when  the  Empress  entered  in  a  simple  white 
dress,  entirely  devoid  of  ornament;  she  was  pale,  but 
calm,  and  leaned  on  the  arm  of  Queen  Hortense,  who  was 
equally  as  pale,  and  much  more  agitated  than  her  august 
mother.  The  Prince  de  Beauharnais  stood  beside  the  Em- 
peror, and  trembled  so  violently  that  it  was  thought  he 
would  fall  every  moment.  When  the  Empress  entered, 
Count  Regnaud  de  Saint-Jean  d'Angely1  read  the  act  of 
separation. 

This  was  heard  in  the  midst  of  profound  silence,  and 
the  deepest  concern  was  depicted  on  eveiy  face.  The 
Empress  appeared  calmer  than  any  one  else  in  the  assem- 

l  Born  at  St.  Fargeau,  1762 ;  counselor  of  state,  1800 ;  died  1819.  —  Trans. 


THE  DIVORCE.  243 

fblage,  although  tears  incessantly  flowed  from  her  eyes.  She' 
i  was  seated  in  an  armchair  in  the  midst  of  the  saloon, 
resting  her  elbow  on  a  table,  while  Queen  Hortense  stood 
sobbing  behind  her.  The  reading  of  the  act  ended,  the 
Empress  rose,  dried  her  eyes,  and  in  a  voice  which  was 
almost  firm,  pronounced  the  words  of  assent,  then  seated 
herself  in  a  chair,  took  a  pen  from  the  hand  of  M.  Regnaud 
de  Saint-Jean  d'Angely,  and  signed  the  act.  She  then 
withdrew,  leaning  on  the  arm  of  Queen  Hortense ;  and 
Prince  Eugene  endeavored  to  retire  at  the  same  moment 
through  the  cabinet,  but  his  strength  failed,  and  he  fell 
insensible  between  the  two  doors.  The  cabinet  usher  im- 
mediately raised  him  up,  and  committed  him  to  the  care 
of  his  aide-de-camp,  who  lavished  on  him  every  attention 
which  his  sad  condition  demanded. 

During  this  terrible  ceremony  the  Emperor  uttered  not 
a  word,  made  not  a  gesture,  but  stood  immovable  as  a 
statue,  his  gaze  fixed  and  almost  wild,  and  remained  silent 
and  gloomy  all  day.  In  the  evening,  when  he  had  just 
retired,  as  I  was  awaitmg^Eis  last  orders,  the  door  opened, 
and  the  Empress  entered,  her  hair  in  disorder,  and  her  coun- 
tenance showing  great  agitation.  This  sight  terrified  me. 
Josephine  (for  she  was  now  no  more  than  Josephine)  ad- 
vanced towards  the  Emperor  with  a  trembling  step,  and 
when  she  reached  him,  paused,  and  weeping  in  the  most 
heartrending  manner,  threw  herself  on  the  bed,  placed  her 
arms  around  the  Emperor's  neck,  and  lavished  on  him 
most  endearing  caresses.  I  cannot  describe  my  emotions. 
The  Emperor  wept  also,  sat  up  and  pressed  Josephine  to 
his  heart,  saying  to  her,  "Come,  my  good  Josephine,  be- 
more  reasonable  !     Come,  courage,  courage ;   I  will  always 


244  EECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

be  your  friend."  Stifled  by  her  sobs,  the  Empress  could 
not  reply ;  and  there  followed  a  silent  scene,  in  which  their 
tears  and  sobs  flowed  together,  and  said  more  than  the 
tenderest  expressions  could  have  done.  At  last-  his  Maj- 
esty, recovering  from  this  momentary  forgetfulness  as  from 
a  dream,  perceived  that  I  was  there,  and  said  to  me  in  a 
voice  choked  with  tears,  "  Withdraw,  Constant."  I  obeyed, 
and  went  into  the  adjoining  saloon;  and  an  hour  after 
Josephine  passed  me,  still  sad  and  in  tears,  giving  me  a 
kind  nod  as  she  passed.  1  then  returned  to  the  sleeping- 
room  to  remove  the  light  as  usual ;  the  Emperor  was 
silent  as  death,  and  so  covered  with  the  bedclothes  that 
his  face  could  not  be  seen. 

The  next  morning  when  I  entered  the  Emperor's  room 
he  did  not  mention  this  visit  of  the  Empress ;  but  I  found 
him  suffering  and  dejected,  and  sighs  which  he  could  not 
repress  issued  from  his  breast.  He  did  not  speak  during 
the  whole  time  his  toilet  lasted,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  com- 
pleted entered  his  cabinet.  This  was  the  day  on  which 
Josephine  was  to  leave  the  Tuileries  for  Malmaison,  and 
all  persons  not  engaged  in  their  duties  assembled  in  the 
vestibule  to  see  once  more  this  dethroned  empress  whom 
all  hearts  followed  in  her  exile.  They  looked  at  her 
without  daring  to  speak,  as  Josephine  appeared,  completely 
veiled,  one  hand  resting  on  the  shoulder  of  one  of  her 
ladies,  and  the  other  holding  a  handkerchief  to  her  eyes. 
A  concert  of  inexpressible  lamentations  arose  as  this  adored 
woman  crossed  the  short  space  which  separated  her  from 
her  carriage,  and  entered  it  without  even  a  glance  at  the 
palace  she  was  quitting  forever;  the  blinds  were  imme- 
diately lowered,  and  the  horses  set  off  at  full  speed. 


JOSEPHINE'S  JEALOUSY  OF  MME.  GAZANI.  245 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

Anecdotes  anterior  to  the  Emperor's  second  marriage.  —  The  Empress  Jose- 
phine's jealousy  of  Madame  Gazani.  —  The  Emperor's  interference.  — 
Change  of  roles.  —  Madame  Gazani  attacked  hy  the  Emperor  and  de- 
fended hy  the  Empress.  —  Furnishers  shown  to  the  door.  —  Female 
conclave  surprised  hy  the  Emperor.  —  Milliner  sent  to  Bicetre. —  Great 
scandal.  —  The  Emperor's  indifference.  —  Audacity  of  a  dressmaker.  — 
The  Emperor  censured  to  his  face.  —  Constant's  fear.  —  Precipitate 
retreat. — The  Emperor  needing  Constant's  piesenee. — The  Emperor 
wishing  Constant  to  write  at  his  dictation.  —  Constant's  refusal.  — 
Special  permission  to  hunt  granted  to  Constant.  —  Gun  given  Constant 
hy  the  Emperor.  — The  Emperor's  preference  for  the  guns  of  Louis  XVI. 

—  Louis  XVI.  an  excellent  shot.  —  Napoleon's  opinion  of  Louis  XVI.  — 
Diplomatic  hreakfasts. — The  saloon  and  family  portraits.  —  Constant's 
cousin  at  the  theater  of  Saint-Cloud. — Curiosity  and  delight. — I'uv- 
vincial  prudery.  —  Constant's  cousin  on  guard  against  pickpockets  at  the 
court  theater.  —  Petitions  presented  to  the  Emperor  hy  Constant.  —  Poor 
success  of  petition  from  the  family  of  Cerf-Berr.  —  Complete  success  ot 
Constant's  petition  for  General  Lemarrois.  —  Disgrace  of  Constant's  ancle 
unintentionally  caused  hy  Marshal  Bessieres.  —  The  marshal's  reparation. 

—  A  woman's  imprudence,  and  a  husband's  misfortune. 

The  marriage  of  the  Emperor  to  Marie  Louise  was  the 
first  step  in  a  new  career.  He  nattered  himself  tli.it  it 
would  be  as  glorious  as  that  lie  had  just  brought  to  a  close, 
but  it  was  to  be  far  otherwise.  Before  entering  on  a  re- 
cital of  the  events  of  the  year  1810,  I  shall  narrate  some 
recollections,  jotted  down  at  random,  which,  although  1 
can  assign  them  no  precise  date,  were,  nevertheless,  an- 
terior to  the  period  we  have   now  reached. 

The  Empress  Josephine  had  long  been  jealous  of  the 
beautiful  Madame  Gazani,  one  of  her  readers,  and  treated 


246         RECOLLECTIONS    OF  NAPOLEON. 

her  coldly;  and  when  she  complained  to  the  Emperor,  he 
spoke  to  Josephine  on  the  subject,  and  requested  her  to 
show  more  consideration  for  her  reader,  who  deserved  it  on 
account  of  her  attachment  to  the  person  of  the  Empress, 
and  added  that  she  was  wrong  in  supposing  that  there  was 
between  Madame  Gazani  and  himself  the  least  liaison.  The 
Empress,  without  being  convinced  by  this  last  declaration 
of  the  Emperor,  had  nevertheless  become  much  more  cor- 
dial to  Madame  Gazani,  when  one  morning  the  Emperor, 
who  apparently  was  afraid  the  beautiful  Genoese  might 
obtain  some  ascendency  over  her,  suddenly  entered  the 
Empress's  apartment,  and  said  to  her,  "  I  do  not  wish  to 
see  Madame  Gazani  here  longer;  she  must  return  to  Italy." 
This  time  it  was  the  good  Josephine  who  defended  her 
reader.  There  were  already  rumors  of  a  divorce ;  and  the 
Empress  remarked  to  his  Majesty,  "  You  know  well,  my 
friend,  that  the  best  means  of  being  rid  of  Madame  Gazani's 
presence  is  to  allow  her  to  remain  with  me.  Let  me  keep 
her,  then.  We  can  weep  together ;  she  and  I  understand 
each  other  well." 

From  this  time  the  Empress  was  a  firm  friend  of  Ma- 
dame Gazani,  who  accompanied  her  to  Malmaison  and 
Navarre.  What  increased  the  kind  feelings  of  the  Em- 
press for  this  lady  was  that  she  thought  her  distressed  by 
the  Emperor's  inconstancy.  For  my  part,  I  have  always 
believed  that  Madame  Gazani's  attachment  to  the  Emperor 
was  sincere,  and  her  pride  must  have  suffered  when  she 
was  dismissed ;  but  she  had  no  difficulty  in  consoling  her- 
self in  the  midst  of  the  homage  and  adoration  which  nat- 
urally surrounded  such  a  pretty  woman. 

The  name  of  the  Empress  Josephine  recalls  two  anec- 


EXTRAVAGANCE  OF  JOSEPHINE.  247 

dotes  which  the  Emperor  himself  related  to  me.  The 
outrageous  extravagance  in  the  Empress's  household  was 
a  continual  vexation  to  him,  and  he  had  dismissed  several 
furnishers  of  whose  disposition  to  abuse  Josephine's  ready 
credulity  he  had  ample  proof. 

One  morning  he  entered  the  Empress's  apartments  un- 
announced, and  found  there  assembled  several  ladies  hold- 
ing a  secret  toilet  council,  and  a  celebrated  milliner  making 
an  official  report  as  to  all  the  handsomest  and  most  elegant 
novelties.  She  was  one  of  the  very  persons  whom  the 
Emperor  had  expressly  forbidden  to  enter  the  palace,  and 
he  did  not  anticipate  finding  her  there.  Yet  he  made  no 
outburst;  and  Josephine,  who  knew  him  better  than  any 
one  else,  was  the  only  one  who  understood  the  irony  of  his 
look  as  he  retired,  saying,  "  Continue  ladies ;  I  am  sorry  to 
have  disturbed  you."  The  milliner,  much  astonished  that 
she  was  not  put  rudely  out  of  the  door,  hastened  to  retire ; 
but  when  she  reached  the  last  step  of  the  stairs  leading 
to  the  apartments  of  her  Majesty  the  Empress,  she  en- 
countered an  agent  of  the  police,  who  requested  her  as 
politely  as  possible  to  enter  a  cab  which  awaited  her  in  the 
Court  of  the  Carrousel.  In  vain  she  protested  that  she 
much  preferred  walking ;  the  agent,  who  had  received  pre- 
cise instructions,  seized  her  arm  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  prevent  all  reply,  and  she  was  obliged  to  obey,  and  to 
take  in  this  unpleasant  company  the  road  to  Bicetre. 

Some  one  related  to  the  Emperor  that  this  arrest  had 
caused  much  talk  in  Paris,  and  that  he  was  loudly  accused 
of  wishing  to  restore  the  Bastile;  that  many  persons  had 
visited  the  prisoner,  and  expressed  their  sympathy,  and  there 
was  a  procession  of  carriages  constantly  before  the  prison. 


248  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

His  Majest}r  took  no  notice  of  this,  and  was  much  amused 
by  the  interest  excited  in  this  seller  of  topknots,  as  he 
called  her.  "  I  will,"  said  his  Majesty  on  this  subject, 
"let  the  gossips  talk,  who  think  it  a  point  of  honor  to 
ruin  themselves  for  gewgaws;  but  I  want  this  old  Jewess 
to  learn  that  I  put  her  inside  because  she  had  forgotten 
that  I  told  her  to  stay  outside." 

Another  celebrated  milliner  also  excited  the  surprise 
and  anger  of  his  Majesty  one  day  by  observations  which 
no  one  in  France  except  this  man  would  have  had  the 
audacity  to  make.  The  Emperor,  who  was  accustomed,  as 
I  have  said,  to  examine  at  the  end  of  every  month  the  ac- 
counts of  his  household,  thought  the  bill  of  the  milliner 
in  question  exorbitant,  and  ordered  me  to  summon  him.  I 
sent  for  him;  and  he  came  in  less  than  ten  minutes,  and 
was  introduced  into  his  Majesty's  apartment  while  he  was 
at  his  toilet.  "  Monsieur,"  said  the  Emperor,  his  eyes  fixed 
on  the  account,  u  your  prices  are  ridiculous,  more  ridiculous, 
if  possible,  than  the  silly,  foolish  people  who  think  they 
need  your  goods.  Reduce  this  to  a  reasonable  amount  or 
I  will  do  it  myself."  The  merchant,  who  held  in  his  hand 
the  duplicate  of  his  bill,  began  to  explain  article  by  article 
the  price  of  his  goods,  and  concluded  the  somewhat  long 
narration  with  a  mild  surprise  that  the  sum  total  was  no 
more.  The  Emperor,  whom  I  was  dressing  during  all  this 
harangue,  could  hardly  restrain  his  impatience  ;  and  I  had 
already  foreseen  that  this  singular  scene  would  end  un- 
pleasantly, when  the  milliner  filled  up  the  measure  of  his 
assurance  by  taking  the  unparalleled  liberty  of  remarking 
to  his  Majesty  that  the  sum  allowed  for  her  Majesty's  toilet 
was  insufficient,  and  that  there  were  simple  citizens'  wives 


NAPOLEON  AND    THE  MILLINER- S  BILL.  249 

who  spent  more  than  that.  I  must  confess  that  at  this 
last  impertinence  I  trembled  for  the  shoulders  of  this  im- 
prudent person,  and  watched  the  Emperor's  movements 
anxiously.  Nevertheless,  to  my  great  astonishment,  he  con- 
tented himself  with  crumpling  in  his  hand  the  bill  of  the 
audacious  milliner,  and,  his  arms  folded  on  his  breast, 
made  two  steps  towards  him,  pronouncing  this  word  only, 
"Really!"  with  such  an  accent  and  such  a  look  that  the 
merchant  rushed  to  the  door,  and  took  to  his  heels  with- 
out waiting  for  a  settlement. 

The  Emperor  did  not  like  me  to  leave  the  chateau,  as 
he  wished  always  to  have  me  within  call,  even  when  my 
duties  were  over  and  he  did  not  need  me ;  and  I  think  it 
was  with  this  idea  of  detaining  me  that  his  Majesty  several 
times  gave  me  copying  to  do.  Sometimes,  also,  the  Em- 
peror wished  notes  to  be  taken  while  he  was  in  bed  or  in 
Ins  bath,  and  said  to  me,  "  Constant,  take  a  pen  and  write;" 
but  I  always  refused,  and  went  to  summon  M.  de  Meiieval. 
I  have  already  stated  that  the  misfortunes  of  the  Revolu- 
tion had  caused  my  education  to  be  more  imperfect  than  it 
should  have  been  ;  but  even  had  it  been  as  good  as  it  is 
defective,  I  much  doubt  whether  I  would  ever  have  been 
able  to  write  from  the  Emperor's  dictation.  It  was  no  easj 
tiling  to  fill  this  office,  and  required  that  one  should  be 
well  accustomed  to  it;  for  he  spoke  quickly,  all  in  one 
breath,  made  no  pause,  and  was  impatient  when  obliged  to 
repeat. 

In  order  to  have  me  always  at  hand,  the  Emperor  gave 
me  permission  to  hunt  in  the  Park  of  Saint-Cloud,  and  was 
kind  enough  to  remark  that  since  I  was  very  fond  of  hunt- 
ing, in  granting  me  this  privilege  he  was  very  glad  to  have 


250  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

combined  rny  pleasure  with  his  need  of  me.  I  was  the 
only  person  to  whom  permission  was  given  to  hunt  in  the 
park.  At  the  same  time  the  Emperor  made  me  a  present 
of  a  handsome  double-barreled  gun  which  had  been  pre- 
sented to  him  at  Liege,  and  which  I  have  still  in  my 
possession.  His  Majesty  himself  did  not  like  double-bar- 
reled guns,  and  used  in  preference  the  simple,  small  guns 
which  had  belonged  to  Louis  XVL,  and  on  which  this 
monarch,  who  was  an  excellent  gunsmith,  had  worked,  it 
is  said,  with  his  own  hands. 

The  sight  of  these  guns  often  led  the  Emperor  to  speak 
of  Louis  XVL,  which  he  never  did  except  in  terms  of 
respect  and  pity.  "  That  unfortunate  prince,"  said  the 
Emperor,  "  was  good,  wise,  and  learned.  At  another  period 
he  would  have  been  an  excellent  king,  but  he  was  worth 
nothing  in  a  time  of  revolution.  He  was  lacking  in  resolu- 
tion and  firmness,  and  could  resist  neither  the  foolishness 
nor  the  insolence  of  the  Jacobins.  The  courtiers  delivered 
him  up  to  the  Jacobins,  and  they  led  him  to  the  scaffold. 
In  his  place  I  would  have  mounted  my  horse,  and,  with  a 
few  concessions  on  one  side,  and  a  few  cracks  of  my  whip 
on  the  other,  I  would  have  reduced  things  to  order." 

When  the  diplomatic  corps  came  to  pay  their  respects 
to  the  Emperor  at  Sain1>Cloud  (the  same  custom  was  in 
use  at  the  Tuileries),  tea,  coffee,  chocolate,  or  whatever 
these  gentlemen  requested,  was  served  in  the  saloon  of  the 
ambassadors.  M.  Colin,  steward  controller,  was  present  at 
this  collation,  which  was  served  by  the  domestics  of  the 
service. 

There  was  at  Saint^Cloud  an  apartment  which  the  Em- 
peror fancied  very  much;   it  opened  on  a  beautiful  avenue 


AT  SAINT-CLOUD.  251 

of  chestnut-trees  in  the  private  park,  where  he  could  walk 
at  any  hour  without  being  seen.  This  apartment  was  sur- 
rounded with  full-length  portraits  of  all  the  princesses  of 
the  Imperial  family,  and  was  called  the  family  salon.  Their 
Highnesses  were  represented  standing,  surrounded  by  their 
children;  the  Queen  of  Westphalia  only  was  seated.  She 
had,  as  I  have  said,  a  very  fine  bust,  but  the  rest  of  her 
figure  was  ungraceful.  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  Naples 
was  represented  with  her  four  children ;  Queen  Hortense 
with  only  one,  i  ae  oldest  of  her  living  sons ;  the  Queen  of 
Spain  with  her  two  daughters ;  Princess  Eliza  with  hers, 
dressed  like  a  boy ;  the  Vice-Queen  alone,  having  no  child 
at  the  time  this  portrait  was  made ;  Priicess  Pauline  was 
also  alone. 

The  theater  and  hunting  were  my  chief  amusements 
at  Saint-Cloud.  During  my  stay  at  this  chateau  I  received 
a  visit  from  a  distant  cousin  whom  I  had  not  seen  for  many 
years.  All  that  he  had  heard  of  the  luxury  which  sur- 
rounded the  Emperor,  and  the  magnificence  of  the  court, 
had  vividly  excited  his  curiosity,  which  I  took  pleasure  in 
gratifying;  and  he  was  struck  with  wonder  at  every  step. 
One  evening  when  there  was  a  play  >  /t  the  chateau,  I  took 
him  into  my  box,  which  was  near  the  pit;  and  the  view 
which  the  hall  offered  when  filled  so  delighted  my  cousin, 
that  I  was  obliged  to  name  each  personage  in  order  to  sat- 
isfy his  insatiable  curiosity,  which  took  them  all  in  succes- 
sion, one  by  one.  It  was  a  short  time  before  the  marriage 
of  the  Emperor  to  the  Archduchess  of  Austria,  and  the 
court  was  more  brilliant  than  ever.  I  showed  my  cousin 
in  succession  their  Majesties,  the  King  and  Queen  of  West- 
phalia,   the    King    and    Queen    of   Naples,    the    Queen    of 


252  BEC0LLECT10NS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

Holland,  King  of  Bavaria,  their  Highnesses  the  Grand 
Duchess  of  Tuscany,  Prince  and  Princess  Borghese,  the 
Princess  of  Baden,  the  Grand  Duke  of  Wiirzburg,  etc., 
besides  the  numerous  dignitaries,  princes,  marshals,  ambas- 
sadors, etc.,  by  whom  the  hall  was  filled.  My  cousin  was 
in  ecstasy,  and  thought  himself  at  least  a  foot  taller  from 
being  in  the  midst  of  this  gilded  multitude,  and  conse- 
quently paid  no  attention  to  the  play,  being  much  more 
interested  in  the  interior  of  the  hall ;  and  v,  hen  we  left  the 
theater  could  not  tell  me  what  piece  had  bee  1  played.  His 
enthusiasm,  however,  did  not  carry  him  so  far  as  to  make 
him  forget  the  incredible  tales  that  had  been  related  to  him 
about  the  pickpocksts  of  the  capital,  and  the  recommenda- 
tions which  had  be,  n  made  to  him  on  this  subject.  In  the 
promenades  at  the  theater,  in  every  assemblage  whatever, 
my  cousin  watched  with  anxious  solicitude  over  his  purse, 
watch,  and  handkerchief;  and  this  habitual  prudence  did 
not  abandon  him  even  at  the  court  theater,  for  just  as  we 
were  leaving  our  box,  to  mingle  with  the  brilliant  crowd 
which  came  out  of  the  pit  and  descended  from  the  boxes, 
he  said  to  me  with  the  utmost  coolness,  covering  with  his 
hand  his  chain  and  t7  .e  seals  of  his  watch,  "  After  all,  it 
is  well  to  take  precautions ;  one  does  not  know  every  one 
here." 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  the  Emperor  was  more  than 
ever  overwhelmed  with  petitions,  and  granted,  as  I  shall 
relate  farther  on,  a  large  number  of  pardons  and  petitions. 

All  petitions  sent  to  the  Emperor  were  handed  by  him 
to  the  aide-de-camp  on  duty,  who  carried  them  to  his  Maj- 
esty's cabinet,  and  received  orders  to  make  a  report  on 
them  the  next  day ;  and  not  even  as  many  as  ten  times 


PETITIONS   GRANTED.  253 

did  I  find  any  petitions  in  his  Majesty's  pockets,  though  I 
always  examined  them  carefully,  and  even  these  rare  in- 
stances were  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  Emperor  had  no 
aide-de-camp  near  him  when  they  were  presented.  It  is 
then  untrue,  as  has  been  so  often  said  and  written,  that 
the  Emperor  placed  in  a  private  pocket,  which  was  called 
the  good  pocket,  the  petitions  he  wished  to  grant,  without 
even  examining  them.  All  petitions  which  deserved  it 
received  an  answer,  and  I  remember  that  I  personally  pre- 
sented a  large  number  to  his  Majesty ;  he  did  not  put  these 
in  his  pocket,  and  in  almost  every  instance  I  had  the  hap- 
piness of  seeing  them  granted.  I  must,  however,  make 
an  exception  of  some  which  I  presented  for  the  Cerf-Berr 
brothers,  who  claimed  payment  for  supplies  furnished  the 
armies  of  the  republic ;  for  to  them  the  Emperor  was 
always  inexorable.  I  was  told  that  this  was  because  Mes- 
sieurs Cerf-Berr  had  refused  General  Bonaparte  a  certain 
sum  which  he  needed  during  the  campaign  of  Italy. 

These  gentlemen  interested  me  deeply  in  their  cause ; 
and  I  several  times  presented  their  petition  to  his  Maj- 
esty, and  in  spite  of  the  care  I  took  to  place  it  in  his 
Majesty's  hands  only  when  he  was  in  good  humor,  I  re- 
ceived no  reply.  I  nevertheless  continued  to  present  the 
petition,  though  I  perceived  that  when  the  Emperor  caught 
a  glimpse  of  it  he  always  became  angry ;  and  at  length  one 
morning,  just  as  his  toilet  was  completed,  I  handed  him  as 
usual  his  gloves,  handkerchief,  and  snuff-box,  and  attached 
to  it  again  this  unfortunate  paper.  His  Majesty  passed 
on  into  his  cabinet,  and  I  remained  in  the  room  attend- 
ing to  my  duties,  and  while  busied  with  these  saw  the 
Emperor  re-enter,  a  paper  in  his  hand.     He  said  to  me, 


2f>4  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

"  Come,  Constant,  read  this ;  you  will  see  that  you  are 
mistaken,  and  the  government  owes  nothing  to  the  Cerf- 
Berr  brothers ;  so  say  nothing  more  to  me  about  it ;  they 
are  regular  Arabs."  I  threw  my  eyes  on  the  paper,  and 
read  a  few  words  obediently;  and  though  I  understood 
almost  nothing  of  it,  from  that  moment  I  was  certain  that 
the  claim  of  these  gentlemen  would  never  be  paid.  I  was 
grieved  at  this,  and  knowing  their  disappointment,  made 
them  an  offer  of  services  which  they  refused.  The  Cerf- 
Berr  brothers,  notwithstanding  my  want  of  success,  were 
convinced  of  the  zeal  I  had  manifested  in  their  service, 
and  thanked  me  warmly.  Each  time  I  addressed  a  peti- 
tion to  the  Emperor,  I  saw  M.  de  Meneval,  whom  I  begged 
to  take  charge  of  it.  He  was  very  obliging,  and  had  the 
kindness  to  inform  me  whether  my  demands  could  hope  for 
success ;  and  he  told  me  that  as  for  the  Cerf-Berr  brothers, 
he  did  not  think  the  Emperor  would  ever  compensate 
them. 

In  fact,  this  family,  at  one  time  wealthy,  but  who  had 
lost  an  immense  patrimony  in  advances  made  to  the  Direc- 
tory, never  received  any  liquidation  of  these  claims,  which 
were  confided  to  a  man  of  great  honesty,  but  too  much 
disposed  to  justify  the  name  given  him.1 

Madame  Theodore  Cerf-Berr  on  my  invitation  had 
presented  herself  several  times  with  her  children  at  Ram- 
bouillet  and  Saint-Cloud,  to  beseech  the  Emperor  to  do  her 
justice.  This  respectable  mother  of  a  family  whom  noth- 
ing could  dismay,  again  presented  herself  with  the  eldest 
of  her  daughters  at  Compiegne.     She  awaited  the  Emperor 

1  M.  de  Fermon,  counselor  of  state,  director  of  general  liquidation,  was 
usually  called  "  Fermons-la-Caisse."  —  Constant. 


THE  CLAIM  OF  THE  CEBF-BERBS.  255 

in  the  forest,  and  throwing  herself  in  the  midst  of  the 
horses,  succeeded  in  handing  him  her  petition;  but  this 
time  what  was  the  result?  Madame  and  Mademoiselle 
Cerf-Berr  had  hardly  re-entered  the  hotel  where  they  were 
staying,  when  an  officer  of  the  secret  police  came  and 
requested  them  to  accompany  him.  He  made  them  enter 
a  mean  cart  filled  with  straw,  and  conducted  them  under 
the  escort  of  two  gens  d'armes  to  the  prefecture  of  police 
at  Paris,  where  they  were  forced  to  sign  a  contract  never 
to  present  themselves  again  before  the  Emperor,  and  on 
this  condition  were  restored  to  liberty. 

About  this  time  an  occasion  arose  in  which  I  was  more 
successful.  General  Lemarrois,  one  of  the  oldest  of  his 
Majesty's  aides-de-camp,  a  soldier  of  well-known  courage, 
who  won  all  hearts  by  his  excellent  qualities,  was  for 
some  time  out  of  favor  with  the  Emperor,  and  several 
times  endeavored  to  obtain  an  audience  with  him;  but 
whether  it  was  that  the  request  was  not  made  known 
to  his  Majesty,  or  he  did  not  wish  to  reply,  M.  Lemarrois 
received  no  answer.  In  order  to  settle  the  matter  he  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  addressing  himself  to  me,  entreating  me 
to  present  his  petition  at  an  opportune  moment.  I  did 
this,  and  had  the  happiness  to  succeed ;  and  in  consequence 
M.  Lemarrois  obtained  an  audience  with  such  gratifying 
results  that  a  short  time  after  he  obtained  the  governor- 
ship of  Magdeburg. 

The  Emperor  was  absent-minded,  and  often  forgot 
where  he  had  put  the  petitions  which  were  handed  to 
him,  and  thus  they  were  sometimes  left  in  his  coats,  and 
when  I  found  them  there  I  carried  them  to  his  Majesty's 
cabinet  and  handed  them  to  M.  de  Meneval  or  M.  Fain  ;  and 


256  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

often,  too,  the  papers  for  which  he  was  hunting  were  found 
in  the  apartments  of  the  Empress.  Sometimes  the  Em- 
peror gave  me  papers  to  put  away,  and  those  I  placed  in 
a  box  of  which  I  alone  had  the  key.  One  day  there  was 
a  great  commotion  in  the  private  apartments  over  a  paper 
which  could  not  be  found.  These  were  the  circumstances : 
Near  the  Emperor's  cabinet  was  a  small  room  in  which 
the  secretaries  stayed,  furnished  with  a  desk,  on  which 
notes  or  petitions  were  often  placed.  This  room  was 
usually  occupied  by  the  cabinet  usher,  and  the  Emperor 
was  accustomed  to  enter  it  if  he  wished  to  hold  a  private 
conversation  without  being  overheard  by  the  secretaries. 
When  the  Emperor  entered  this  room  the  usher  with- 
drew and  remained  outside  the  door;  he  was  responsible 
for  everything  in  this  room,  which  was  never  opened 
except  by  express  orders  from  his  Majesty. 

Marshal  Bessieres  had  several  days  before  presented 
to  the  Emperor  a  request  for  promotion  from  a  colonel  of 
the  army  which  he  had  warmly  supported.  One  morning 
the  marshal  entered  the  little  room  of  which  I  have  just 
spoken,  and  finding  his  petition  already  signed  lying  on 
the  desk,  he  carried  it  off,  without  being  noticed  by  my 
wife's  uncle  who  was  on  duty.  A  few  hours  after,  the 
Emperor  wished  to  examine  this  petition  again,  and  was 
very  sure  he  had  left  it  in  this  small  room ;  but  it  was  not 
there,  and  it  was  thought  that  the  usher  must  have  allowed 
some  one  to  enter  without  his  Majesty's  orders.  Search 
was  made  everywhere  in  this  room  and  in  the  Emperor's 
cabinet,  and  even  in  the  apartments  of  the  Empress,  and 
at  last  it  was  necessary  to  announce  to  his  Majesty  that 
the  search  had  been  in  vain;   whereupon  the  Emperor  gave 


THE  LOST  PETITION.  257 

way  to  one  of  those  bursts  of  anger  which  were  so  ter- 
rible though  fortunately  so  rare,  which  terrified  the  whole 
chateau,  and  the  poor  usher  received  orders  never  to  ap- 
pear in  his  sight  again.  At  last  Marshal  Bessieres,  hav- 
ing been  told  of  this  terrible  commotion,  came  to  accuse 
himself.  The  Emperor  was  appeased,  the  usher  restored  to 
favor,  and  everything  forgotten ;  though  each  one  was 
more  careful  than  ever  that  nothing  should  be  disturbed, 
and  that  the  Emperor  should  find  at  his  finger's  end 
whatever  papers  he  needed. 

The  Emperor  would  not  allow  any  one  to  be  introduced 
without  his  permission,  either  into  the  Empress's  apart- 
ments or  his  own ;  and  this  was  the  one  fault  for  which  the 
people  of  the  household  could  not  expect  pardon.  Once, 
I  do  not  exactly  remember  when,  the  wife  of  one  of  the 
Swiss  Guard  allowed  one  of  her  lovers  to  enter  the  apart- 
ments of  the  Empress ;  and  this  unfortunate  woman,  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  her  imprudent  mistress,  took  in  soft 
wax  an  impression  of  the  key  of  the  jewel-box  which  I 
have  already  mentioned  as  having  belonged  to  Queen  Marie 
Antoinette,  and,  by  means  of  a  false  key  made  from  this 
impression,  succeeded  in  stealing  several  articles  of  jew- 
elry. The  police  soon  discovered  the  author  of  the  rob- 
bery who  was  punished  as  he  deserved,  though  another 
person  was  also  punished  who  did  not  deserve  it,  for  the 
poor  husband  lost  his  place. 


258  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

Various  opinions  at  the  chateau  on  the  Emperor's  marriage.  —  Conjectures 
shown  to  be  wrong.  —  Constant  charged  to  renew  the  Emperor's  ward- 
robe. —  His  Majesty  receives  the  portrait  of  Marie  Louise.  —  Souvenir 
of  V Ecole-Militaire. — Waltzing  makes  the  Emperor  dizzy.  —  Broken 
chairs. — Dancing-lesson  given  the  Emperor  by  Princess  Stephanie. — 
Departure  of  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel  for  Vienna.  —  Marriage  by  proxy. 
—  Formation  of  the  household  of  the  Empress. — Wedding  presents  of 
the  Empress.  —  The  slipper  of  good  luck. — The  Emperor's  opinion  of 
Queen  Caroline  of  Naples. — Mistake  of  Queen  Caroline  about  the  new 
Empress.  —  Disappointed  ambition.  —  The  Empress  deprived  of  her  first 
lady  of  honor. —  Marie  Louise's  resentment  against  Queen  Caroline. — 
Correspondence  between  their  Majesties.  —  The  Emperor  sends  game  to 
the  Empress.  —  Harshness  of  the  Duke  of  Vicenza.  —  An  order  of  the 
Duke  of  Vicenza  executed  more  quickly  than  an  order  of  the  Emperor. 

—  His  Majesty's   impatience.  —  Acts  of    kindness.  —  The  coquetry  of 
glory.  —  Meeting  of  their  imperial  Majesties.  —  Moment  of  irritability. 

—  Marie  Louise's  amiability. 

After  his  divorce  from  the  Empress  Josephine,  the 
Emperor  appeared  much  preoccupied ;  and  as  it  was  known 
that  he  thought  of  marrying  again,  all  persons  at  the 
chateau  and  in  his  Majesty's  service  were  greatly  con- 
cerned about  this  marriage,  though  all  our  conjectures 
concerning  the  princess  destined  to  share  the  Imperial 
crown  proved  to  be  wrong.  Some  spoke  of  a  Russian 
princess,  while  others  said  the  Emperor  would  marry  none 
but  a  French  woman ;  but  no  one  thought  of  an  Austrian 
archduchess.  When  the  marriage  had  been  decided, 
nothing  was  spoken  of  at  the  court  but  the  youth,  grace, 
and  native  goodness  of  the  new  Empress.     The  Emperor 


NAPOLEON  LEARNS   THE   WALTZ.  259 

was  very  gay,  and  paid  more  attention  to  his  toilet,  giving 
me  orders  to  renew  his  wardrobe,  and  to  order  better  fitting 
coats,  made  in  a  more  modern  style.  The  Emperor  also 
sat  for  his  portrait,  which  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel  carried 
to  Marie  Louise ;  and  the  Emperor  received  at  the  same 
time  that  of  his  young  wife,  with  which  he  appeared  de- 
lighted. 

The  Emperor,  in  order  to  win  Marie  Louise's  affection, 
did  more  undignified  things  than  he  had  ever  done  for  any 
woman.  For  instance,  one  day  when  he  was  alone  with 
Queen  Hortense  and  the  Princess  Stephanie,  the  latter  mis- 
chievously asked  him  if  he  knew  how  to  waltz ;  and  his 
Majesty  replied  that  he  had  never  been  able  to  go  be- 
yond the  first  lesson,  because  after  two  or  three  turns  hi 
became  so  dizzy  that  he  was  compelled  to  stop.  "  When  I 
was  at  Vj/Zcole  Militaire"  added  the  Emperor,  "I  tried 
again  and  again  to  overcome  dizziness  which  waltzing 
produced,  but  I  could  not  succeed.  Our  dancing-master 
having  advised  us,  in  learning  to  waltz,  to  take  a  chair 
in  our  arms  instead  of  a  lady,  I  never  failed  to  fall  with 
the  chair,  which  I  pressed  so  lovingly  that  it  broke  ;  and 
thus  the  chairs  in  my  room,  and  that  of  two  or  three  of 
my  companions,  were  destroyed,  one  after  the  other." 
This  tale  told  in  the  most  animated  and  amusing  manner 
by  his  Majesty  excited  bursts  of  laughter  from  the  two 
princesses. 

When  this  hilarity  had  somewhat  subsided,  Princess 
Stephanie  returned  to  the  charge,  saying,  "  It  really  is  a 
pity  that  your  Majesty  does  not  know  how  to  waltz,  for 
the  Germans  are  wild  over  waltzing,  and  the  Empress  will 
naturally  share  the  taste  of  her  compatriots ;   she  can  have 


260  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

no  partner  but  the  Emperor,  and  thus  she  will  be  deprived 
of  a  great  pleasure  through  your  Majesty's  fault."  —  "  You 
are  right !  "  replied  the  Emperor ;  "  well,  give  me  a  les- 
son, and  you  will  have  a  specimen  of  my  skill."  Where- 
upon he  rose,  took  a  few  turns  with  Princess  Stephanie, 
humming  the  air  of  the  Queen  of  Prussia;  but  he  could 
not  take  more  than  two  or  three  turns,  and  even  this  he 
did  so  awkwardly  that  it  increased  the  amusement  of  these 
ladies.  Then  the  Princess  of  Baden  stopped,  saying, 
"Sire,  that  is  quite  enough  to  convince  me  that  you  will 
never  be  anything  but  a  poor  pupil.  You  were  made  to> 
give  lessons,  not  to  take  them." 

Early  in  March  the  Prince  de  Neuchatel  set  out  for 
Vienna  commissioned  to  officially  request  the  hand  of  the 
Empress  in  marriage.  The  Archduke  Charles,  as  proxy 
of  the  Emperor,  married  the  Archduchess  Marie  Louise, 
and  she  set  out  at  once  for  France,  the  little  town  of 
Braunau,  on  the  frontier  between  Austria  and  Bavaria, 
having  been  designated  as  the  place  at  which  her  Majesty 
was  to  pass  into  the  care  of  a  French  suite.  The  road 
from  Strasburg  was  soon  filled  with  carriages  conveying  to 
Braunau  the  household  of  the  new  Empress,  composed  of 
the  following  persons  :  — 

The  Prince  Aldobrandini  Borghese,  first  equerry,  in 
place  of  General  Ordener,  appointed  governor  of  the  cha- 
teau of  Compiegne ;  the  Count  de  Beauharnais,  chevalier  of 
honor. 

Lady  of  honor,  Madame  de  Montebello ;  lady  of  attire, 
the  Countess  de  Lucay. 

Ladies  of  the  palace,  Mesdames  the  Duchess  de  Bas- 
sano  and  de  Hovigo,  and  Mesdames  the  Countess  de  Mont- 


THE  EMPRESS'S    HOUSEHOLD.  261 

morenci,  de  Mortemart,  de  Talhouet,  de  Lauriston,  de 
Duchatel,  de  Bouille,  de  Montalivet,  de  Perron,  de  Las- 
caris,  de  Noailles,  de  Brignolle,  de  Gentile,  and  de  Canisy 
(afterwards  Duchess  of  Vicenza1). 

Most  of  these  ladies  had  passed  from  the  household 
of  the  Empress  Josephine  into  that  of  Marie  Louise. 

The  Emperor  wished  to  see  for  himself  if  the  trousseau 
and  wedding  presents  intended  for  his  new  wife  were 
worthy  of  him  and  of  her,  consequently  all  the  clothing 
and  linen  were  brought  to  the  Tuileries,  spread  out  before 
him,  and  packed  under  his  own  eyes.  The  good  taste  and 
elegance  of  each  article  were  equaled  only  by  the  richness 
of  the  materials.  The  furnishers  and  modistes  of  Paris 
had  worked  according  to  models  sent  from  Vienna ;  and 
when  these  models  were  presented  to  the  Emperor  he  took 
one  of  the  shoes,  which  were  remarkably  small,  and  with 
it  gave  me  a  blow  on  the  cheek  in  the  form  of  a  caress. 
"  See,  Constant,"  said  his  Majesty,  "  that  is  a  shoe  of  good 
augury.  Have  you  ever  seen  a  foot  like  that?  This  is 
made  to  be  held  in  the  hand." 

Her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  Naples  had  been  sent  to 
Braunau  by  the  Emperor  to  receive  the  Empress.  Queen 
Caroline,  of  whom  the  Emperor  once  said  that  she  was  a 
man  among  her  sisters,  as  Prince  Joseph  was  a  woman 
among  his  brothers,  mistook,  it  is  said,  the  timidity  of  Marie 
Louise  for  weakness,  and  thought  that  she  would  only  have 
to  speak  and  her  young  sister-in-law  would  hasten  to  obey. 
On  her  arrival  at  Braunau  the  formal  transfer  was  solemnly 
made ;  and  the  Empress  bade  farewell  to  all  her  Austrian 

1  See  the  recital  of  the  disgrace  of  Madame  de  La  Rochefoucault.  — 
Constant. 


262  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

household,  retaining  in  her  service  only  her  first  lady  of 
honor,  Madame  de  Lajanski,  who  had  reared  her  and  never 
been  absent  from  her.  Etiquette  required  that  the  house- 
hold of  the  Empress  should  be  entirely  French,  and  the 
orders  of  the  Emperor  were  very  precise  in  this  regard;  but 
I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  true,  as  has  been  stated,  that 
the  Empress  had  demanded  and  obtained  from  the  Em- 
peror permission  to  retain  for  a  year  this  lady  of  honor. 
However  that  may  be,  the  Queen  of  Naples  thought  it  to 
her  interest  to  remove  a  person  whose  influence  over  the 
mind  of  the  Empress  she  so  much  feared ;  and  as  the  ladies 
of  the  household  of  her  Imperial  Majesty  were  themselves 
eager  to  be  rid  of  the  rivalry  of  Madame  de  Lajanski,  and 
endeavored  to  excite  still  more  the  jealousy  of  her  Imperial 
highness,  a  positive  order  was  demanded  from  the  Emperor, 
and  Madame  de  Lajanski  was  sent  back  from  Munich  to 
Vienna.  The  Empress  obeyed  without  complaint,  but 
knowing  who  had  instigated  the  blow,  cherished  a  pro- 
found resentment  against  her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  Naples. 
The  Empress  traveled  only  by  short  stages,  and  was  wel- 
comed by  fetes  in  each  town  through  which  she  passed. 
Each  day  the  Emperor  sent  her  a  letter  from  his  own  hand, 
and  she  replied  regularly.  The  first  letters  of  the  Empress 
were  very  short,  and  probably  cold,  for  the  Emperor  said 
nothing  about  them ;  but  afterwards  they  grew  longer  and 
gradually  more  affectionate,  and  the  Emperor  read  them  in 
transports  of  delight,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  these  letters 
with  the  impatience  of  a  lover  twenty  years  of  age,  and 
always  saying  the  couriers  traveled  slowly,  although  they 
broke  down  their  horses. 

The  Emperor  returned  from  the  chase  one  day  holding 


LETTERS   FROM  MARIE  LOUISE.  263 

in  his  hands  two  pheasants  which  he  had  himself  killed, 
and  followed  by  footmen  bearing  in  their  hands  the  rarest 
flowers  from  the  conservatory  of  Saint-Cloud.  He  wrote 
a  note,  and  immediately  said  to  his  first  page,  "  In  ten 
minutes  be  ready  to  enter  your  carriage.  You  will  find 
there  this  package  which  you  will  give  with  your  own  hand 
to  her  Majesty  the  Empress,  with  the  accompanying  letter. 
Above  all  do  not  spare  the  horses  ;  go  as  fast  as  possible, 
and  fear  nothing.  The  Duke  of  Vicenza  shall  say  noth- 
ing to  you."  The  young  man  asked  nothing  better  than 
to  obey  his  Majesty ;  and  strong  in  this  authoritj^,  which 
gave  him  perfect  liberty,  he  did  not  grudge  drink  money 
to  the  postilions,  and  in  twenty-four  hours  had  reached 
Strasburg  and  delivered  his  message. 

I  do  not  know  whether  he  received  a  reprimand  from  the 
grand  equerry  on  his  return ;  but  if  there  was  any  cause 
for  this,  the  latter  would  not  have  failed  to  bestow  it,  in 
spite  of  the  Emperor's  assurance  to  the  first  page.  The 
Duke  of  Vicenza  had  organized  and  kept  in  admirable 
order  the  service  of  the  stables,  where  nothing  was  done  ex- 
cept by  his  will,  which  was  most  absolute ;  and  it  was  only 
with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  the  Emperor  himself  could 
change  an  order  which  the  grand  equerry  had  given.  For 
instance,  his  Majesty  was  one  day  en  route  to  Fontainebleau, 
and  being  very  anxious  to  arrive  quickly,  gave  orders  to 
the  outrider  who  regulated  the  gait  of  the  horses,  to  go 
faster.  This  order  he  transmitted  to  the  Duke  of  Vicenza 
whose  carriage  preceded  that  of  the  Emperor ;  and  finding 
that  the  grand  equerry  paid  no  attention  to  this  order,  the 
Emperor  began  to  swear,  and  cried  to  the  outrider  through 
the  door,  "  Let  my  carriage   pass  in  front,  since  those  in 


264  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

front  will  not  go  on."  The  outriders  and  postilions  were 
about  to  execute  this  maneuver  when  the  grand  equerry 
also  put  his  head  out  of  the  door  and  exclaimed,  "  Keep  to 
a  trot,  the  first  man  who  gallops  I  will  dismiss  on  arriv- 
ing." It  was  well  known  that  he  would  keep  his  word, 
so  no  one  dared  to  pass,  and  his  carriage  continued  to 
regulate  the  pace  of  the  others.  On  reaching  Fontaine- 
bleau  the  Emperor  demanded  of  the  Duke  of  Vicenza  an 
explanation  of  his  conduct.  "  Sire,"  replied  the  duke  to 
his  Majesty,  "  when  you  allow  me  a  larger  sum  for  the 
expenses  of  the  stables,  you  can  kill  your  horses  at  your 
pleasure." 

The  Emperor  cursed  every  moment  the  ceremonials  and 
fetes  which  delayed  the  arrival  of  his  young  wife.  A  camp 
had  been  formed  near  Soissons  for  the  reception  of  the 
Empress.  The  Emperor  was  now  at  Compiegne,  where  he 
made  a  decree  containing  several  clauses  of  benefits  and 
indulgences  on  the  occasion  of  his  marriage,  setting  at 
liberty  many  condemned,  giving  Imperial  marriage  dowries 
to  six  thousand  soldiers,  amnesties,  promotions,  etc.  At 
length  his  Majesty  learned  that  the  Empress  was  not  more 
than  ten  leagues  from  Soissons,  and  no  longer  able  to  re- 
strain his  impatience,  called  me  with  all  his  might,  "  Ohe 
ho,  Constant!  order  a  carriage  without  livery,  and  come 
and  dress  me."  The  Emperor  wished  to  surprise  the  Em- 
press, and  present  himself  to  her  without  being  announced ; 
and  laughed  immoderately  at  the  effect  this  would  produce. 
He  attended  to  his  toilet  with  even  more  exquisite  care 
than  usual,  if  that  were  possible,  and  with  the  coquetry  of 
glory  dressed  himself  in  the  gray  redingote  he  had  worn  at 
Wagram ;  and  thus  arrayed,  the  Emperor  entered  a  carriage 


NAPOLEON'S  IMPATIENCE.  265 

with  the  King  of  Naples.     The  circumstances  of  this  first 
meeting  of  their  Imperial  Majesties  are  well  known. 

In  the  little  village  of  Courcelles,  the  Emperor  met  the 
last  courier,  who  preceded  by  only  a  few  moments  the  car- 
riages of  the  Empress ;  and  as  it  was  raining  in  torrents,  his 
Majesty  took  shelter  on  the  porch  of  the  village  church. 
As  the  carriage  of  the  Empress  was  passing,  the  Emperor 
made  signs  to  the  postilions  to  stop ;  and  the  equerry,  who 
was  at  the  Empress's  door,  perceiving  the  Emperor,  hastily 
lowered  the  step,  and  announced  his  Majesty,  who,  some- 
what vexed  by  this,  exclaimed,  "  Could  you  not  see  that 
I  made  signs  to  you  to  be  silent?"  This  slight  ill- 
humor,  however,  passed  away  in  an  instant ;  and  the  Em- 
peror threw  himself  on  the  neck  of  Marie  Louise,  who, 
holding  in  her  hand  the  picture  of  her  husband,  and  look- 
ing attentively  first  at  it,  then  at  him,  remarked  with  a 
charming  smile,  "It  is  not  flattered."  A  magnificent  sup- 
per had  been  prepared  at  Soissons  for  the  Empress  and 
her  cortege  ;  but  the  Emperor  gave  orders  to  pass  on,  and 
drove  as  far  as  Compiegne,  without  regard  to  the  appetites 
of  the  officers  and  ladies  in  the  suite  of  the  Empress. 


266  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

Arrival  of  their  Majesties  at  Compiegne. — The  Emperor's  jealousy.  —  In- 
justice done  by  his  Majesty  to  M.  de  Beauharnais.  —  Forgetfulness  of 
ceremonial.  —  The  Emperor's  coquetry.  —  First  nocturnal  visit  of  his 
Majesty  to.  the  Empress. — The  Emperor's  opinion  of  Germans. — The 
Emperor's  gayety. — His  devoted  attentions  to  Marie  Louise.  —  Report 
denied.  —  Description  of  the  Empress  Marie  Louise. — Instructions  to 
the  Empress.  —  Comparison  between  the  wives  of  the  Emperor.  —  Differ- 
ences and  points  of  resemblance  between  the  two  Empresses.  —  The 
memorial  of  Saint  Helena.  —  Preference  of  the  Emperor  for  the  second 
wife.  —  Economy  of  the  Empress  Marie  Louise.  —  Her  want  of  taste.  — 
The  Emperor  an  excellent  husband.  — The  Emperor's  words  contradicted 
by  Constant.  —  Remembrance  of  Josephine  not  effaced  by  Marie  Louise. 

—  Prejudice  of  Marie  Louise  against  her  household  and  the  Emperor's. 

—  Return  of  Constant  from  the  Russian  campaign.  —  Consideration  of 
the  Emperor  and  of  Queen  Hortense.  —  Disdainful  coldness  of  the 
Empress.  —  Excessive  consideration  of  the  Empress  Josephine.  —  In- 
trigues among  the  ladies  of  the  Empress. — Order  restored  by  the  Em- 
peror. —  The  Emperor's  watchfulness  over  the  Empress.  —  Harshness 
towards  the  ladies  of  the  Empress.  —  Anecdote  refuted. 

On  their  Majesties'  arrival  at  Compiegne,  the  Emperor 
presented  his  hand  to  the  Empress,  and  conducted  her  to 
her  apartment.  He  wished  that  no  one  should  approach  or 
touch  his  young  wife  before  himself ;  and  his  jealousy  was 
so  extreme  on  this  point  that  he  himself  forbade  the  senator 
de  Beauharnais,  the  Empress's  chevalier  of  honor,  to  pre- 
sent his  hand  to  her  Imperial  Majesty,  although  this  was 
one  of  the  requirements  of  his  position.  According  to  the 
programme,  the  Emperor  should  have  occupied  a  different 
residence  from  the  Empress,  and  have  slept  at  the  hotel  of 
the  Chancellerie  ;  but  he  did  nothing  of  the  sort,  since  after 


NAPOLEON  DEVOTED   TO  MARIE  LOUISE.  267 

a  long  conversation  with  the  Empress,  he  returned  to  his 
room,  undressed,  perfumed  himself  with  cologne,  and  wear- 
ing only  a  nightdress  returned  secretly  to  the  Empress. 

The  next  morning  the  Emperor  asked  me  at  his  toilet  if 
any  one  noticed  the  change  he  had  made  in  the  programme  ; 
and  I  replied  that  I  thought  not,  though  at  the  risk  of 
falsehood.  Just  then  one  of  his  Majesty's  intimate  friends 
entered  who  was  unmarried,  to  whom  his  Majesty,  pulling 
his  ears,  said,  "  My  dear  fellow,  marry  a  German.  They 
are  the  best  wives  in  the  world;  gentle,  good,  artless,  and 
fresh  as  roses."  From  the  air  of  satisfaction  with  which 
the  Emperor  said  this,  it  was  easy  to  see  that  he  was  paint- 
ing a  portrait,  and  it  was  only  a  short  while  since  the 
painter  had  left  the  model.  After  making  his  toilet,  the 
Emperor  returned  to  the  Empress,  and  towards  noon  had 
breakfast  sent  up  for  her  and  him,  and  served  near  the 
bed  by  her  Majesty's  women.  Throughout  the  day  he  was 
in  a  state  of  charming  gayety,  and  contrary  to  his  usual  cus- 
tom, having  made  a  second  toilet  for  dinner,  wore  the  coat 
made  by  the  tailor  of  the  King  of  Naples  ;  but  next  day 
he  would  not  allow  it  to  be  put  on  again,  saying  it  was 
much  too  uncomfortable. 

The  Emperor,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  preceding  de- 
tails, loved  his  new  wife  most  tenderly.  He  paid  her  con- 
stant attentions,  and  his  whole  conduct  was  that  of  a  lover 
deeply  enamoured.  Nevertheless,  it  is  not  true,  as  some 
one  has  said,  that  he  remained  three  months  almost  without 
working,  to  the  great  astonishment  of  his  ministers ;  for 
work  was  not  only  a  duty  with  the  Emperor,  it  was  both  a 
necessity  and  an  enjoyment,  from  which  no  other  pleasure, 
however  great,  could  distract  him ;   and  on  this  occasion,  as 


268  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

on  every  other,  he  knew  perfectly  well  how  to  combine 
the  duties  he  owed  to  his  empire  and  his  army  with  those 
due  to  his  charming  wife. 

The  Empress  Marie  Louise  was  only  nineteen  years 
old  at  the  period  of  her  marriage.  Her  hair  was  blond, 
her  eyes  blue  and  expressive,  her  carriage  noble,  and  her 
figure  striking,  while  her  hand  and  foot  might  have  served 
as  models;  in  fact,  her  whole  person  breathed  youth, 
health,  and  freshness.  She  was  diffident,  and  maintained  a 
haughty  reserve  towards  the  court ;  but  she  was  said  to  be 
affectionate  and  friendly  in  private  life,  and  one  fact  I 
can  assert  positively  is  that  she  was  very  affectionate 
toward  the  Emperor,  and  submissive  to  his  will.  In  their 
first  interview  the  Emperor  asked  her  what  recommenda- 
tions were  made  to  her  on  her  departure  from  Vienna. 
"  To  be  entirely  devoted  to  you,  and  to  obey  you  in  all 
things,"  which  instructions  she  seemed  to  find  no  difficulty 
in  obeying. 

No  one  could  resemble  the  first  Empress  less  than 
the  second,  and  except  in  the  two  points  of  similarity  of 
temperament,  and  an  extreme  regard  for  the  Emperor,  the 
one  was  exactly  the  opposite  of  the  other ;  and  it  must  be 
confessed  the  Emperor  congratulated  himself  on  this  dif- 
ference, in  which  he  found  both  novelty  and  charm.  He 
himself  drew  a  parallel  between  his  two  wives  in  these 
terms  :  — 

"  The  one  [Josephine]  was  all  art  and  grace  ;  the  other 
[Marie  Louise]  innocence  and  natural  simplicity.  At  no 
moment  of  her  life  were  the  manners  or  habits  of  the  former 
other  than  agreeable  and  attractive,  and  it  would  have  been 
impossible  to  take  her  at  a  disadvantage  on  these  points; 


COMPARISON  OF  THE  TWO  EMPRESSES.  269 

for  it  was  her  special  object  in  life  to  produce  only  advan- 
tageous impressions,  and  she  gained  her  end  without  al- 
lowing this  effort  to  be  seen.  All  that  art  can  furnish 
to  supplement  attractions  was  practiced  by  her,  but  so 
skillfully  that  the  existence  of  tins  deception  could  only 
be  suspected  at  most.  On  the  contraiy,  it  never  occurred 
to  the  mind  of  the  second  that  she  could  gain  anything  by 
innocent  artifices.  The  one  was  always  tempted  to  infringe 
upon  the  truth,  and  her  first  emotion  was  a  negative  one. 
The  other  was  ignorant  of  dissimulation,  and  every  de- 
ception was  foreign  to  her.  The  first  never  asked  for 
anything,  but  she  owed  everywhere.  The  second  did  not 
hesitate  to  ask  if  she  needed  anything,  which  was  very 
rarely,  and  never  purchased  anything  without  feeling  her- 
self obliged  to  pay  for  it  immediately.  To  sum  it  all  up, 
both  were  good,  gentle  wives,  and  much  attached  to  their 
husband."  Such,  or  very  nearly  these,  were  the  terms  in 
which  the  Emperor  spoke  of  his  Empresses.  It  can  be 
seen  that  he  drew  the  comparison  in  favor  of  the  second ; 
and  with  this  idea  he  gave  her  credit  for  qualities  winch 
she  did  not  possess,  or  at  least  exaggerated  greatly  those 
really  belonging  to  her. 

The  Emperor  granted  Marie  Louise  500,000  francs  for 
her  toilet,  but  she  never  spent  the  entire  amount.  She  had 
little  taste  in  dress,  and  would  have  made  a  very  inelegant 
appearance  had  she  not  been  well  advised.  The  Emperor 
was  present  at  her  toilet  those  days  on  which  he  wished 
her  to  appear  especially  well,  and  himself  tried  the  effect 
of  different  ornaments  on  the  head,  neck,  and  arms  of  the 
Empress,  always  selecting  something  very  handsome.  The 
Emperor  was  an  excellent  husband,  of  which  he  gave  proof 


270  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

in  the  case  of  both  his  wives.  He  adored  his  son,  and 
both  as  father  and  husband  might  have  served  as  a  model 
for  all  his  subjects ;  yet  in  spite  of  whatever  he  may  have 
said  on  the  subject  himself,  I  do  not  think  he  loved  Marie 
Louise  with  the  same  devoted  affection  as  Josephine.  The 
latter  had  a  charming  grace,  a  kindness,  an  intelligence, 
and  a  devotion  to  her  husband  which  the  Emperor  knew 
and  appreciated  at  its  full  value ;  and  though  Marie  Louise 
was  younger,  she  was  colder,  and  had  far  less  grace  of  man- 
ner. I  think  she  was  much  attached  to  her  husband ;  but 
she  was  reserved  and  reticent,  and  by  no  means  took  the 
place  of  Josephine  with  those  who  had  enjoyed  the  happi- 
ness of  being  near  the  latter. 

Notwithstanding  the  apparent  submission  with  which 
she  had  bidden  farewell  to  her  Austrian  household,  it  is 
certain  that  she  had  strong  prejudices,  not  only  against 
her  own  household,  but  also  against  that  of  the  Emperor, 
and  never  addressed  a  gracious  word  to  the  persons  in 
the  Emperor's  personal  service.  I  saw  her  frequently,  but 
not  a  smile,  a  look,  a  sign,  on  the  part  of  the  Empress 
showed  me  that  I  was  in  her  eyes  anything  more  than  a 
stranger.  On  my  return  from  Russia,  whence  I  did  not 
arrive  until  after  the  Emperor,  I  lost  no  time  in  entering 
his  room,  knowing  that  he  had  already  asked  for  me,  and 
found  there  his  Majesty  with  the  Empress  and  Queen  Hor- 
tense.  The  Emperor  condoled  with  me  on  the  sufferings 
I  had  recently  undergone,  and  said  many  flattering  things 
which  proved  his  high  opinion  of  me ;  and  the  queen,  with 
that  charming  grace  of  which  she  is  the  only  model  since 
the  death  of  her  august  mother,  conversed  with  me  for 
•some    time  in  the  kindest  manner.     The    Empress   alone 


CONSTANT  IGNORED.  271 

kept  silence ;  and  noticing  this  the  Emperor  said  to  her, 
"Louise,  have  you  nothing  to  say  to  poor  Constant?" 
—  "I  had  not  perceived  him,"  said  the  Empress.  This 
reply  was  most  unkind,  as  it  was  impossible  for  her  Majesty 
not  to  have  "perceived"  me,  there  being  at  that  moment 
present  in  the  room  only  the  Emperor,  Queen  Hortense, 
and  I. 

The  Emperor  from  the  first  took  the  severest  precau- 
tions that  no  one,  and  especially  no  man,  should  approach 
the  Empress,  except  in  the  presence  of  witnesses. 

During  the  time  of  the  Empress  Josephine,  there  were 
four  ladies  whose  only  duty  was  to  announce  the  persons 
received  by  her  Majesty.  The  excessive  indulgence  of 
Josephine  prevented  her  repressing  the  jealous  pretensions 
of  some  persons  of  her  household,  which  gave  rise  to  end- 
less debates  and  rivalries  between  the  ladies  of  the  palace 
and  those  of  announcement.  The  Emperor  had  been  much 
annoyed  by  all  these  bickerings,  and,  in  order  to  avoid 
them  in  future,  chose,  from  the  ladies  charged  with  the 
education  of  the  daughters  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  in  the 
school  at  r^couen,  four  new  ladies  of  announcement  for 
the  Empress  Marie  Louise.  Preference  was  at  first  given 
to  the  daughters  or  widows  of  generals ;  and  the  Emperor 
decided  that  the  places  becoming  vacant  belonged  by  right 
to  the  best  pupils  of  the  Imperial  school  of  Ecouen,  and 
should  be  given  as  a  reward  for  good  conduct.  A  short 
time  after,  the  number  of  these  ladies  now  being  as  many 
as  six,  two  pupils  of  Madame  de  Campan  were  named,  and 
these  ladies  changed  their  titles  to  that  of  first  ladies  of 
the  Empress. 

This  change,  however,  excited  the  displeasure   of    the 


272  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ladies  of  the  palace,  and  again  aroused  their  clamors  around 
the  Emperor ;  and  he  consequently  decided  that  the  ladies 
of  announcement  should  take  the  title  of  first  ladies  of 
the  chamber.  Great  clamor  among  the  ladies  of  announce- 
ment in  their  turn,  who  came  in  person  to  plead  their 
cause  before  the  Emperor ;  and  he  at  last  ended  the  matter 
by  giving  them  the  title  of  readers  to  the  Empress,  in 
order  to  reconcile  the  requirements  of  the  two  belligerent 
parties. 

These  ladies  of  announcement,  or  first  ladies  of  the 
chamber,  or  readers,  as  the  reader  may  please  to  call  them, 
had  under  their  orders  six  femmes  de  chambre,  who  entered 
the  Empress's  rooms  only  when  summoned  there  by  a  bell. 
These  latter  arranged  her  Majesty's  toilet  and  hair  in  the 
morning ;  and  the  six  first  ladies  took  no  part  in  her  toilet 
except  the  care  of  the  diamonds,  of  which  they  had  special 
charge.  Their  chief  and  almost  only  employment  was  to 
follow  the  steps  of  the  Empress,  whom  they  left  no  more 
than  her  shadow,  entering  her  room  before  she  arose,  and 
leaving  her  no  more  till  she  was  in  bed.  Then  all  the 
doors  opening  into  her  room  were  closed,  except  that 
leading  into  an  adjoining  room,  in  which  was  the  bed 
of  the  lady  on  duty,  and  through  which,  in  order  to  enter 
his  wife's  room,  the  Emperor  himself  must  pass. 

With  the  exception  of  M.  de  Meneval,  secretary  of 
orders  of  the  Empress,  and  M.  Ballouhai,  superintendent 
of  expenses,  no  man  was  admitted  into  the  private  apart- 
ments of  the  Empress  without  an  order  from  the  Em- 
peror; and  the  ladies  even,  except  the  lady  of  honor  and 
the  lady  of  attire,  were  received  only  after  making  an  ap- 
pointment with  the  Empress.      The  ladies  of  the  private 


JEALOUSY  OF  NAPOLEON.  213 

apartments  were  required  to  observe  these  rules,  and  were 
responsible  for  their  execution ;  and  one  of  them  was  re- 
quired to  be  present  at  the  music,  painting,  and  embroidery 
lessons  of  the  Empress,  and  wrote  letters  by  her  dictation 
or  under  her  orders. 

The  Emperor  did  not  wish  that  any  man  in  the  world 
should  boast  of  having  been  alone  with  the  Empress  for 
two  minutes  ;  and  he  reprimanded  very  severely  the  lady 
on  duty  because  she  one  day  remained  at  the  end  of  the 
saloon  while  M.  Biennais,  court  watchmaker,  showed  her 
Majesty  a  secret  drawer  in  a  portfolio  he  had  made  for 
her.  Another  time  the  Emperor  was  much  displeased 
because  the  lady  on  duty  was  not  seated  by  the  side  of 
the  Empress  while  she  took  her  music-lesson  with  M.  Pae'r. 

These  facts  prove  conclusively  the  falsity  of  the  state- 
ment that  the  milliner  Leroy  was  excluded  from  the  palace 
for  taking  the  liberty  of  saying  to  her  Majesty  that  she 
had  beautiful  shoulders.  M.  Leroy  had  the  dresses  of  the 
Empress  made  at  his  shop  by  a  model  winch  was  sent  him ; 
and  they  were  never  tried  on  her  Majesty,  either  by  him, 
or  any  person  of  her  Majesty's  household,  and  necessary 
alterations  were  indicated  by  her  femmes  de  chambre.  It 
was  the  same  with  the  other  merchants  and  furnishers, 
makers  of  corsets,  the  shoemaker,  glovemaker,  etc. ;  not 
one  of  whom  ever  saw  the  Empress  or  spoke  to  her  in  her 
private  apartments. 


274  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Religious  ceremony  of  the  marriage  of  their  Majesties.  —  The  day  after  their 
marriage.  —  Magnificent  fetes. — The  temples  of  glory  and  of  hymen. — 
Present  of  the  city  of  Paris  to  the  Empress.  —  Journey  to  the  depart- 
ments of  the  North.  —  Recollections  of  Josephine.  —  Triumph  and  isola- 
tion. —  Arrival  at  Antwerp.  —  Coolness  between  the  King  of  Holland  and 
the  Emperor.  — Mutual  distrust  in  the  midst  of  the  fetes. — Rage  of  the 
Emperor.  —  The  two  sovereigns  and  the  two  brothers.  —  Some  traits  in 
the  character  of  Prince  Louis.  —  Error  in  regard  to  him.  — Boat-race  at 
Flushing. —  A  storm.  —  Danger  incurred  by  the  Emperor.  —  Her  Majesty's 
anxiety. — Critical  situation  of  an  usher  on  duty. — A  word  from  the 
Emperor.  —  Rapid  progress.  —  Fondness  of  the  Empress  for  balls  and  the 
stage.  —  Continued  festivities.  —  Burning  of  the  residence  of  the  Prince 
of  Schwartzenberg.  —  Fortunate  presence  of  mind  of  the  Emperor  and 
the  Vice-king  of  Italy.  — The  Emperor's  words.  — The  three  capitals  of 
the  French  Empire. 

Their  Majesties'  civil  marriage  was  celebrated  at  Saint- 
Cloud  on  Sunday,  the  1st  of  April,  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  The  religious  ceremony  was  solemnized  the 
next  day  in  the  grand  gallery  of  the  Louvre.  A  very 
singular  circumstance  in  this  connection  was  the  fact  that 
Sunday  afternoon  at  Saint-Cloud  the  weather  was  beauti- 
ful, while  the  streets  of  Paris  were  flooded  with  a  heavy 
shower  lasting  some  time,  and  on  Monday  there  was  rain 
at  Saint-Cloud,  while  the  weather  was  magnificent  in  Paris, 
as  if  the  fates  had  decreed  that  nothing  should  lessen  the 
splendor  of  the  cortege,  or  the  brilliancy  of  the  wonderful 
illuminations  of  that  evening.  "  The  star  of  the  Em- 
peror," said  some  one  in  the  language  of  that  period, 
"has  borne  him  twice  over  equinoctial  winds." 


MAGNIFICENT  FETES.  275 

On  Monday  evening  the  city  of  Paris  presented  a  scene 
that  might  have  been  taken  from  the  realms  of  enchant- 
ment :  the  illuminations  were  the  most  brilliant  I  have  ever 
witnessed,  forming  a  succession  of  magic  panorama  in 
which  houses,  hotels,  palaces,  and  churches,  shone  with 
dazzling  splendor,  the  glittering  towers  of  the  churches 
appeared  like  stars  and  comets  suspended  in  the  air. 
The  hotels  of  the  grand  dignitaries  of  the  empire,  the 
ministers,  the  ambassadors  of  Austria  and  Russia,  and 
the  Duke  d'Abrantes,  rivaled  each  other  in  taste  and 
beauty.  The  Place  Louis  XV.  was  like  a  scene  from 
fairyland;  from  the  midst  of  this  Place,  surrounded  with 
orange-trees  on  fire,  the  eye  was  attracted  in  succession  by 
the  magnificent  decorations  of  the  Champs-Elysees,  the 
Garde  Meuble,  the  Temple  of  Glory,  the  Tuileries,  and 
the  Corps  Legislatif.  The  palace  of  the  latter  repre- 
sented the  Temple  of  Hymen,  the  transparencies  on  the 
front  representing  Peace  uniting  the  august  spouses.  Be- 
side them  stood  two  figures  bearing  shields,  on  which  were 
represented  the  arms  of  the  two  empires  ;  and  behind  this 
group  came  magistrates,  warriors,  and  the  people  present- 
ing crowns.  At  the  two  extremities  of  the  transparen- 
cies were  represented  the  Seine  and  the  Danube,  surrounded 
by  children  —  image  of  fecundity.  The  twelve  columns 
of  the  peristyle  and  the  staircase  were  illuminated ;  and 
the  columns  were  united  by  garlands  of  colored  lights, 
the  statues  on  the  peristyle  and  the  steps  also  bearing 
lights.  The  bridge  Louis  XV.,  by  which  this  Temple  of 
Hymen  was  reached,  formed  in  itself  an  avenue,  whose 
double  rows  of  lamps,  and  obelisks  and  more  than  a  hun- 
dred columns,  each  surmounted  by  a  star  and  connected 


276  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

by  spiral  festoons  of  colored  lights,  produced  an  effect 
so  brilliant  that  it  was  almost  unendurable  to  the  naked 
eye.  The  cupola  of  the  dome  of  Saint  Genevieve  was 
also  magnificently  lighted,  and  each  side  outlined  by  a 
double  row  of  lamps.  At  each  corner  were  eagles,  ciphers 
in  colored  glass,  and  garlands  of  fire  suspended  between 
torches  of  Hymen.  The  peristyle  of  the  dome  was  lighted 
by  lamps  placed  between  each  column,  and  as  the  columns 
were  not  lighted  they  seemed  as  if  suspended  in  the  air. 
The  lantern  tower  was  a  blaze  of  light ;  and  all  this  mass 
of  brilliancy  was  surmounted  by  a  tripod  representing  the 
altar  of  Hymen,  from  which  shot  tongues  of  flame,  pro- 
duced by  bituminous  materials.  At  a  great  elevation 
above  the  platform  of  the  observatory,  an  immense  star, 
isolated  from  the  platform,  and  which  from  the  variety  of 
many-colored  glasses  composing  it  sparkled  like  a  vast 
diamond,  under  the  dome  of  night.  The  palace  of  the 
senate  also  attracted  a  large  number  of  the  curious ;  but 
I  have  already  extended  too  far  the  description  of  this 
wonderful  scene  which  unfolded  itself  at  every  step  be- 
fore us. 

The  city  of  Paris  did  homage  to  her  Majesty  the 
Empress  by  presenting  her  with  a  toilet  set  even  more 
magnificent  than  that  formerly  presented  to  the  Empress 
Josephine.  Everything  was  in  silver  gilt,  even  the  arm- 
chair and  the  cheval  glass.  The  paintings  on  the  exquisite 
furniture  had  been  made  by  the  first  artists,  and  the  ele- 
gance and  finish  of  the  ornaments  surpassed  even  the  rich- 
ness of  the  materials. 

About  the  end  of  April  their  Majesties  set  out  togethei 
to  visit  the  departments  of  the  North ;  and  the  journey  was 


AT  ANTWERP,  277 

an  almost  exact  repetition  of  the  one  I  made  in  1804  with 
the  Emperor,  only  the  Empress  was  no  longer  the  good, 
kind  Josephine.  While  passing  again  through  all  these 
towns,  where  I  had  seen  her  welcomed  with  so  much  en- 
thusiasm, and  who  now  addressed  the  same  adoration  and 
homage  to  a  new  sovereign,  and  while  seeing  again  the 
chateaux  of  Lacken,  Brussels,  Antweq),  Boulogne,  and  many 
other  places  where  I  had  seen  Josephine  pass  in  triumph,  as 
at  present  Marie  Louise  passed,  I  thought  with  chagrin  of 
the  isolation  of  the  first  wife  from  her  husband,  and  the 
suffering  which  must  penetrate  even  into  her  retreat,  as  she 
was  told  of  the  honors  rendered  to  the  one  who  had  suc- 
ceeded her  in  the  Emperor's  heart  and  on  the  Imperial 
throne. 

The  King  and  Queen  of  Westphalia  and  Prince  Eugene 
accompanied  their  Majesties.  We  saw  a  vessel  with  eighty 
cannon  launched  at  Antwerp,  which  received,  before  leav- 
ing the  docks,  the  benediction  of  M.  de  Pradt,  Archbishop 
of  Marines.  The  King  of  Holland,  who  joined  the  Emperor 
at  Antwerp,  felt  most  unkindly  towards  his  Majesty,  who 
had  recently  required  of  him  the  cession  of  a  part  of  his 
states,  and  soon  after  seized  the  remainder.  He  was,  how- 
ever, present  in  Paris  at  the  marriage  fites  of  the  Emperor, 
who  had  even  sent  him  to  meet  Marie  Louise;  but  the 
two  brothel's  had  not  ceased  their  mutual  distrust  of  each 
other,  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  that  of  King  Louis  had 
only  too  good  foundation.  What  struck  me  as  very  .sin- 
gular in  their  altercations  was  that  the  Emperor,  in  the 
absence  of  his  brother,  gave  vent  to  the  most  terrible 
bursts  of  rage,  and  to  violent  threats  against  him,  while 
if  they  had  an  interview  they  treated  each  other   in   the 


278  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

most  amicable  and  familiar  and  brotherly  manner.  Apart 
they  were,  the  one,  Emperor  of  the  French,  the  other,  King 
of  Holland,  with  opposite  interests  and  views ;  together 
they  were  no  more  than,  if  I  may  be  permitted  to  so  ex- 
press myself,  Napoleon  and  Louis,  companions  and  friends 
from  childhood. 

Prince  Louis  was  habitually  sad  and  melancholy.  The 
annoyances  he  experienced  on  the  throne,  where  he  had 
been  placed  against  his  will,  added  to  his  domestic  troubles, 
made  him  evidently  very  unhappy,  and  all  who  knew  him 
pitied  him  sincerely ;  for  King  Louis  was  an  excellent 
master,  and  an  honest  man  of  much  merit.  It  has  been 
said  that  when  the  Emperor  had  decided  on  the  union 
of  Holland  and  France,  King  Louis  resolved  to  defend 
himself  in  the  town  of  Amsterdam  to  the  last  extremity, 
and  to  break  the  dikes  and  inundate  the  whole  country 
if  necessary,  in  order  to  arrest  the  invasion  of  the  French 
troops.  I  do  not  know  whether  this  is  true ;  but  from 
what  I  have  seen  of  this  prince's  character,  I  am  very  sure 
that,  while  having  enough  personal  courage  to  expose  his 
own  person  to  all  the  chances  of  this  desperate  alternative, 
his  naturally  kind  heart  and  his  humanity  would  have 
prevented  the  execution  of  this  project. 

At  Middleburg  the  Emperor  embarked  on  board  the 
Charlemagne  to  visit  the  mouth  of  the  Scheldt  and  the 
port  and  island  of  Flushing.  During  this  excursion  we 
were  assailed  by  a  terrible  tempest,  three  anchors  were 
broken  in  succession ;  we  met  with  other  accidents,  and 
encountered  great  dangers. 

The  Emperor  was  made  very  sick,  and  every  few  mo- 
ments threw  himself  on  his  bed,  making  violent  but  unsuc- 


MARIE  LOUISE  AS  A    HORSEWOMAN.  279 

cessful  efforts  to  vomit,  which  rendered  his  sickness  more 
distressing.  I  was  fortunate  enough  not  to  be  at  all  incon- 
venienced, and  was  thus  in  a  position  to  give  him  all  the 
attention  he  required;  though  all  the  persons  of  his  suite 
were  sick,  and  my  uncle,  who  was  usher  on  duty,  and 
obliged  to  remain  standing  at  the  door  of  his  Majesty's 
cabin,  fell  over  continually,  and  suffered  agony.  During 
this  time  of  torment,  which  lasted  for  three  days,  the  Em- 
peror was  bursting  with  impatience.  "  I  think,"  said  he, 
"  that  I  would  have  made  a  pretty  admiral." 

A  short  time  after  our  return  from  this  voyage,  the 
Emperor  wished  her  Majesty  the  Empress  to  learn  to  ride 
on  horseback ;  and  for  this  purpose  she  went  to  the  riding- 
hall  of  Saint-Cloud.  Several  persons  of  the  household  were 
in  the  gallery  to  see  her  take  her  first  lesson,  I  among 
the  number ;  and  I  noticed  the  tender  solicitude  of  the 
Emperor  for  his  young  wife,  who  was  mounted  on  a  gentle, 
well-broken  horse,  while  the  Emperor  held  her  hand  and 
walked  by  her  side,  M.  Jardin,  St.,  holding  the  horse's 
bridle.  At  the  first  step  the  horse  made,  the  Empress 
screamed  with  fright,  whereupon  the  Emperor  said  to  her, 
"Come,  Louise,  be  brave.  What  have  you  to  fear?  Am 
I  not  here  ?  "  And  thus  the  lesson  passed,  in  encourage- 
ment on  one  side  and  fright  on  the  other.  The  next  day 
the  Emperor  ordered  the  persons  in  the  gallery  to  leave, 
as  they  embarrassed  the  Empress ;  but  she  soon  overran^ 
her  timidity,  and  ended  by  becoming  a  very  good  horse- 
woman, often  racing  in  the  park  with  her  ladies  of  honor 
and  Madame  the  Duchess  of  Montebello,  who  also  rode 
with  much  grace.  A  coach  with  some  ladies  followed 
the  Empress,  and  Prince  Aldobrandini,  her  equerry,  never 
left  her  in  her  rides. 


280  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

The  Empress  was  at  an  age  in  which  one  enjoys  balls 
and  fetes;  but  the  Emperor  feared  above  all  things  her 
becoming  tired,  and  consequently  rejoicings  and  amuse- 
ments were  given  up  at  the  court  and  in  the  city.  A 
fete  given  in  honor  of  their  Majesties  by  the  Prince  of 
Schwartzenberg,  ambassador  from  Austria,  ended  in  a 
frightful  accident. 

The  prince  occupied  the  former  Hotel  de  la  Montesson 
in  the  rue  de  la  Chaussee  d' Antin ;  and  in  order  to  give  this 
ball  had  added  to  this  residence  a  broad  hall  and  wooden 
gallery,  decorated  with  quantities  of  flowers,  banners,  can- 
delabra, etc.  Just  as  the  Emperor,  who  had  been  present  at 
the  fete  for  two  or  three  hours,  was  about  to  retire,  one  of 
the  curtains,  blown  by  the  breeze,  took  fire  from  the  lights, 
which  had  been  placed  too  near  the  windows,  and  was  in- 
stantly in  flames.  Some  persons  made  ineffectual  efforts 
to  extinguish  the  fire  by  tearing  down  the  drapery  and 
smothering  the  flames  with  their  hands ;  but  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye  the  curtains,  papers,  and  garlands  caught, 
and  the  wood-work  began  to  burn. 

The  Emperor  was  one  of  the  first  to  perceive  the 
rapid  progress  of  the  fire,  and  foresee  the  results.  He 
approached  the  Empress,  who  had  already  risen  to  join 
him,  and  got  out  with  her,  not  without  some  difficulty,  on 
account  of  the  crowd  which  rushed  towards  the  doors  ; 
the  Queens  of  Holland,  Naples,  Westphalia,  the  Princess 
Borghese,  etc.,  following  their  Majesties,  while  the  Vice- 
queen  of  Italy,  who  was  pregnant,  remained  in  the  hall, 
on  the  platform  containing  the  Imperial  boxes.  The  vice- 
king,  fearing  the  crowd  as  much  as  the  fire  for  his  wife, 
took  her  out  through  a  little  door  that  had  been  cut  in 


THE  FIRE.  281 

the  platform  in  order  to  serve  refreshments  to  their  Majes- 
ties. No  one  had  thought  of  this  opening  before  Prince 
Eugene,  and  only  a  few  persons  went  out  with  him.  Her 
Majesty  the  Queen  of  Westphalia  did  not  think  herself 
safe,  even  when  she  had  reached  the  terrace,  and  in  her 
fright  rushed  into  the  rue  Taitbout,  where  she  was  found 
by  a  passer-by. 

The  Emperor  accompanied  the  Empress  as  far  as  the 
entrance  of  the  Champs-Elysees,  where  he  left  her  to  re- 
turn to  the  fire,  and  did  not  re-enter  Saint-Cloud  until 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  From  the  time  of  the  arrival 
of  the  Empress  we  were  in  a  state  of  terrible  apprehension, 
and  every  one  in  the  chateau  was  a  prey  to  the  greatest 
anxiety  in  regard  to  the  Emperor.  At  last  he  arrived  un- 
harmed, but  very  tired,  his  clothing  all  in  disorder,  and  Ins 
face  blackened  with  smoke,  his  shoes  and  stockings  scorched 
and  burned  by  the  fire.  He  went  directly  to  the  chamber 
of  the  Empress  to  assure  himself  if  she  had  recovered  from 
the  fright  she  had  experienced;  and  then  returned  to  his 
room,  and  throwing  his  hat  on  the  bed,  dropped  on  a  sofa, 
exclaiming,  "  Mon  Dieu  !  What  a  fete  !  "  I  remarked  that 
the  Emperor's  hands  were  all  blackened,  and  he  had  lost  his 
gloves  at  the  fire.  He  was  much  dejected,  and  while  I 
was  undressing  him,  asked  if  I  had  attended  the  prince's 
fete,  and  when  I  replied  in  the  negative,  deigned  to  give 
me  some  details  of  this  deplorable  event.  The  Emperor 
spoke  with  an  emotion  which  I  saw  him  manifest  only  two 
or  three  times  in  his  life,  and  which  he  never  showed  in 
regard  to  his  own  misfortunes.  "The  fire,"  said  his  Maj- 
esty, "has  to-night  devoured  a  heroic  woman.  The  sister- 
in-law  of  the  Prince  of  Schwartzenberg,  hearing  from  the 


282  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

burning  hall  cries  which  she  thought  were  uttered  by  her 
eldest  daughter,  threw  herself  into  the  midst  of  the  flames, 
and  the  floor,  already  nearly  burned  through,  broke  under 
her  feet,  and  she  disappeared.  After  all  the  poor  mother 
was  mistaken,  and  all  her  children  were  out  of  danger. 
Incredible  efforts  were  made,  and  at  last  she  was  recovered 
from  the  flames ;  but  she  was  entirely  dead,  and  all  the 
attentions  of  the  physicians  have  been  unsuccessful  in  re- 
storing her  to  life."  The  emotion  of  the  Emperor  increased 
at  the  end  of  this  recital.  I  had  taken  care  to  have  his 
bath  in  readiness,  foreseeing  he  would  need  it  on  his  re- 
turn ;  and  his  Majesty  now  took  it,  and  after  his  customary 
rubbing,  found  himself  in  much  better  condition.  Never- 
theless, I  remember  his  expressing  fear  that  the  terrible 
accident  of  this  night  was  the  precursor  of  some  fatal 
event,  and  he  long  retained  these  apprehensions.  Three 
years  after,  during  the  deplorable  campaign  of  Russia,  it 
was  announced  to  the  Emperor  one  day,  that  the  army-corps 
commanded  by  the  Prince  of  Schwartzenberg  had  been  de- 
stroyed, and  that  the  prince  himself  had  perished ;  after- 
wards he  found  fortunately  that  these  tidings  were  false, 
but  when  they  were  brought  to  his  Majesty,  he  exclaimed 
as  if  replying  to  an  idea  that  had  long  preoccupied  him, 
"  Then  it  was  he  whom  the  bad  omen  threatened." 

Towards  morning  the  Emperor  sent  pages  to  the  houses 
of  all  those  who  had  suffered  from  the  catastrophe  with  his 
compliments,  and  inquiries  as  to  their  condition.  Sad  an- 
swers were  brought  to  his  Majesty.  Madame  the  Princess 
de  la  Layen,  niece  of  the  Prince  Primate,  had  died  from 
her  wounds ;  and  the  lives  of  General  Touzart,  his  wife,  and 
daughter  were  despaired  of,  —  in  fact,  they  died  that  same 


ESCAPE  OF  PRINCE  KOUEAKIN.  283 

day.  There  were  other  victims  of  this  disaster ;  and 
among  a  number  of  persons  who  recovered  after  long-con- 
tinued sufferings  were  Prince  Kourakin  and  Madame  Du- 
rosnel,  wife  of  the  general  of  that  name. 

Prince  Kourakin,  always  remarkable  for  the  magnifi- 
cence as  well  as  the  singular  taste  of  his  toilet,  wore  at 
the  ball  a  coat  of  gold  cloth,  and  it  was  this  which  saved 
his  life,  as  sparks  and  cinders  slipped  off  his  coat  and 
the  decorations  with  which  he  was  covered  like  a  helmet ; 
yet,  notwithstanding  this,  the  prince  was  confined  to  his 
bed  for  several  months.  In  the  confusion  he  fell  on  his 
back,  was  for  some  time  trampled  under  foot  and  much 
injured,  and  owed  his  life  only  to  the  presence  of  mind 
and  strength  of  a  musician,  who  raised  him  in  his  arms 
and  carried  him  out  of  the  crowd. 

General  Durosnel,  whose  wife  fainted  in  the  ball-room, 
threw  himself  in  the  midst  of  the  flames,  and  reappeared 
immediately,  bearing  in  his  arms  his  precious  burden.  He 
bore  Madame  Durosnel  into  a  house  on  the  boulevard, 
where  he  placed  her  until  he  could  find  a  carriage  in  which 
to  convey  her  to  his  hotel.  The  Countess  Durosnel  was 
painfully  burned,  and  was  ill  more  than  two  years.  In 
going  from  the  ambassador's  hotel  to  the  boulevard  he  saw 
by  the  light  of  the  fire  a  robber  steal  the  comb  from  the 
head  of  his  wife  who  had  fainted  in  his  arms.  This  comb 
was  set  with  diamonds,  and  very  valuable. 

Madame  Durosnel's  affection  for  her  husband  was  equal 
to  that  he  felt  for  her;  and  when  at  the  end  of  a  bloody 
combat,  in  the  second  campaign  of  Poland,  General  Duros- 
nel was  lost  for  several  days,  and  news  was  sent  to  France 
that  he  was  thought  to  be  dead,  the  countess  in  despair  fell 


284  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ill  of  grief,  and  was  at  the  point  of  death.  A  short  time 
after  it  was  learned  that  the  general  was  badly  but  not 
mortally  wounded,  and  that  he  had  been  found,  and  his 
wounds  would  quickly  heal.  When  Madame  Durosnel  re- 
ceived this  happy  news  her  joy  amounted  almost  to  delir- 
ium ;  and  in  the  court  of  her  hotel  she  made  a  pile  of  her 
mourning  clothes  and  those  of  her  people,  set  fire  to  them, 
and  saw  this  gloomy  pile  turn  to  ashes  amid  wild  transports 
of  joy  and  delight. 

Two  days  after  the  burning  of  the  hotel  of  the  Prince  of 
Schwartz enberg,1  the  Emperor  received  the  news  of  the  ab- 
dication of  his  brother  Louis,  by  which  event  his  Majesty 
seemed  at  first  much  chagrined,  and  said  to  some  one  who 
entered  his  room  just  as  he  had  been  informed  of  it,  "  1 
foresaw  this  madness  of  Louis,  but  I  did  not  think  he 
would  be  in  such  haste."  Nevertheless,  the  Emperor  soon 
decided  what  course  to  take ;  and  a  few  days  afterwards  his 
Majesty,  who  during  the  toilet  had  not  opened  his  mouth, 
came  suddenly  out  of  his  preoccupation  just  as  I  handed 
him  his  coat,  and  gave  me  two  or  three  of  his  familiar  taps. 
"Monsieur  Constant,"  said  he,  "do  you  know  what  are  the 
three  capitals  of  the  French  Empire  ?  "  and  without  giving 
me  time  to  answer,  the  Emperor  continued,  "  Paris,  Rome, 
and  Amsterdam.     That  sounds  well,  does  it  not  ?  " 

1  Prince  Karl  Philipp  von  Schwartzenberg,  an  Austrian  field-marshal,  born 
at  Vienna,  1771.  Commanded  the  Austrian  forces  under  Napoleon  in  the 
Russian  campaign,  and  was  commander-in-chief  of  the  allied  army  against 
him  in  1813  and  1814.  He  was  several  times  ambassador,  and  negotiated  the 
marriage  of  Marie  Louise.    Died  1820.  — Trans. 


FUNERAL    CEREMONIES.  285 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

The  remains  of  Marshal  Lamies  transferred  to  the  Pantheon.  —  Funeral  cere- 
monies. —  Appearance  of  the  Church  of  the  Invalides  on  the  day  of  the 
ceremony.  — Glorious  inscription. —  The  procession.  —  Last  adieux.  —  Sin- 
cere tears. —  Stay  at  Rambouillet.  —  Duel  between  two  pages  of  the 
Emperor.  —  Paternal  prudence  of  M.  d'Assigny. — The  St.  Louis  fete 
in  honor  of  the  Empress.  —  Prognostics  drawn  after  the  event.  —  Review 
of  the  Imperial  Guard  of  Holland.  —  Serious  disorders.  — The  Emperor's 
solicitude.  —  An  officer's  happy  idea.  —  Influence  of  the  mere  name  of 
the  Emperor. — Napoleon  godfather  and  Marie  Louise  godmother. — 
Wise  forethought  of  the  Emperor.  —  Distraction  of  the  Emperor  during 
the  services  at  the  church. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July  large  crowds  visited  the 
Church  of  the  Hotel  des  Invalides,  in  which  were  placed 
the  remains  of  General  Saint-Hilaire  and  the  Duke  de 
Montebello,  the  remains  of  the  marshal  being  placed  near 
the  tomb  of  Turenne.  The  mornings  were  spent  in  the 
celebration  of  several  masses,  at  a  double  altar  which  was 
raised  between  the  nave  and  the  dome;  and  for  four  days 
there  floated  from  the  spire  of  the  dome  a  long  black 
banner  or  flag  edged  with  white. 

The  day  the  remains  of  the  marshal  were  removed 
from  the  Invalides  to  the  Pantheon,  I  was  sent  from  Saint- 
Cloud  to  Paris  with  a  special  message  for  the  Emperor. 
After  this  duty  was  attended  to,  I  still  had  a  short  time  of 
leisure,  of  which  I  availed  myself  to  witness  the  sad  cere- 
mony and  bid  a  last  adieu  to  the  brave  warrior  whose 
death  I  had  witnessed.  At  noon  all  the  civil  and  mili- 
tary authorities  assembled  at  the  Invalides ;  and  the  body 


286  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

was  transferred  from  the  dome  into  the  church,  and  placed 
on  a  catafalque  in  the  shape  of  a  great  Egyptian  pyramid, 
raised  on  an  elevated  platform,  and  approached  through 
four  large  arches,  the  posts  of  which  were  entwined  with 
garlands  of  laurels  interlaced  with  cypress.  At  the  cor- 
ners were  statues  in  the  attitude  of  grief,  representing  Force, 
Justice,  Prudence,  and  Temperance,  virtues  characteristic 
of  the  hero.  This  pyramid  ended  in  a  funeral  urn  sur- 
mounted by  a  crown  of  fire.  On  the  front  of  the  pyramid 
were  placed  the  arms  of  the  duke,  and  medallions  commem- 
orating the  most  remarkable  events  of  his  life  borne  by 
genii.  Under  the  obelisk  was  placed  the  sarcophagus 
containing  the  remains  of  the  marshal,  at  the  corners  of 
which  were  trophies  composed  of  banners  taken  from  his 
enemies,  and  innumerable  silver  candelabra  were  placed  on 
the  steps  by  which  the  platform  was  reached.  The  oaken 
altar,  in  the  position  it  occupied  before  the  Revolution,  was 
double,  and  had  a  double  tabernacle,  on  the  doors  of 
which  were  the  commandments,  the  whole  surmounted  by 
a  large  cross,  from  the  intersection  of  which  was  sus- 
pended a  shroud.  At  the  corners  of  the  altar  were  the 
statues  of  St.  Louis  and  St.  Napoleon.  Four  large  cande- 
labra were  placed  on  pedestals  at  the  corners  of  the  steps, 
and  the  pavement  of  the  choir  and  that  of  the  nave  were 
covered  with  a  black  carpet.  The  pulpit,  also  draped  in 
black  and  decorated  with  the  Imperial  eagle,  and  from 
which  was  pronounced  the  funeral  oration  over  the  mar- 
shal, was  situated  on  the  left  in  front  of  the  bier ;  on 
the  right  was  a  seat  of  ebony  decorated  with  Imperial 
arms,  bees,  stars,  lace,  fringes,  and  other  ornaments  in  sil- 
ver, which  was   intended  for  the  prince  archchancelor  of 


INSCRIPTION  ON  THE   TOMB.  287 

the  Empire,  who  presided  at  the  ceremony.  Steps  were 
erected  in  the  arches  of  the  aisles,  and  corresponded  to 
the  tribunes  which  were  above ;  and  in  front  of  these 
steps  were  seats  and  benches  for  the  civil  and  military 
authorities,  the  cardinals,  archbishops,  bishops,  etc.  The 
arms,  decorations,  baton,  and  laurel  crown  of  the  marshal 
were  placed  on  the  bier. 

All  the  nave  and  the  bottom  of  the  aisles  were  covered 
with  black  with  a  white  bordering,  as  were  the  windows 
also,  and  the  draperies  displayed  the  marshal's  arms,  baton, 
and  cipher. 

The  organ  was  entirely  concealed  by  voluminous  hang- 
ings which  in  no  wise  lessened  the  effect  of  its  mournful 
tones.  Eighteen  sepulchral  silver  lamps  were  suspended 
by  chains  from  lances,  bearing  on  their  points  flags  taken 
from  the  enemy.  On  the  pilasters  of  the  nave  were  fas- 
tened trophies  of  arms,  composed  of  banners  captured  in 
the  numerous  engagements  which  had  made  the  marshal's 
life  illustrious.  The  railing  of  the  altar  on  the  side  of 
the  esplanade  was  draped  in  black,  and  above  this  were 
the  arms  of  the  duke  borne  by  two  figures  of  Fame  hold- 
ing palms  of  victory;  above  was  written:  "Napoleon  to 
the  Memory  of  the  Duke  of  Montebello,  who  died  gloriously 
on  the  field  of  Essling,  22d  May,  1809" 

The  conservatory  of  music  executed  a  mass  composed  of 
selections  from  the  best  of  Mozart's  sacred  pieces.  After 
the  ceremony  the  body  was  carried  as  far  as  the  door  of 
the  church  and  placed  on  the  funeral  car,  which  was  orna- 
mented with  laurel  and  four  groups  of  the  banners  cap- 
tured from  the  enemy  by  his  army-corps  in  the  numerous 
battles  in  which  the  marshal  had  taken  part,  and  was  pre- 


288  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ceded  by  a  military  and  religious  procession,  followed  by 
one  of  mourning  and  honor.  The  military  cortege  was 
composed  of  detachments  from  all  branches  of  the  army,  — 
cavalry,  and  light  infantry,  and  the  line,  and  artillery  both 
horse  and  foot ;  followed  by  cannon,  caissons,  sappers,  and 
miners,  all  preceded  by  drums,  trumpets,  bands,  etc. ;  and 
the  general  staff,  with  the  marshal,  Prince  of  Wagram,  at 
its  head,  formed  of  all  the  general  officers,  with  the  staff 
of  the  division  and  of  the  place. 

The  religious  procession  was  composed  of  children  and 
old  men  from  the  hospitals,  clergy  from  all  the  parishes 
and  from  the  metropolitan  church  of  Paris,  bearing  crosses 
and  banners,  with  singers  and  sacred  music,  and  his  Maj- 
esty's chaplain  with  his  assistants.  The  car  on  which  was 
placed  the  marshal's  body  followed  immediately  after.  The 
marshals,  Duke  of  Conegliano,1  Count  Serrurier,2  Duke  of 
Istria,3  and  Prince  of  Eckmuhl,4  bore  the  cornel's  of  the 
pall.  On  each  side  of  the  car  two  of  the  marshal's  aides- 
de-camp  bore  a  standard,  and  on  the  bier  were  fastened  the 
baton  of  the  marshal  and  the  decoration?  of  the  Duke  of 
Montebello. 

After  the  car  came  the  cortege  of  mourning  and  of 
honor ;  the  marshal's  empty  carriage,  with  two  of  his  aides- 
de-camp  on  horseback  at  the  door,  four  mourning  carriages 
for  the  marshal's  family,  the  carriages  of  the  princes,  grand 
dignitaries,  marshals,  ministers,  colonel-generals,  and  chief 
inspectors.  Then  came  a  detachment  of  cavalry  preceded 
by  trumpets,  and  bands  on  horseback  followed  the  carriages 
and  ended  the  procession.     Music  accompanied  the  chants, 

1  Marshal  Moneey.     2  Marshal  Serrurier.     8  Marshal  Bessieres.    4  Mar- 
shal Davoust.  — Trans. 


TEE  DUEL,  289 

all  the  bells  of  the  churches  tolled,  and  thirteen  cannon 
thundered  at  intervals. 

On  arriving  at  the  subterranean  entrance  of  the  church 
of  Saint-Genevieve,  the  body  was  removed  from  the  car  by 
grenadiers  who  had  been  decorated  and  wounded  in  the 
same  battles  as  the  marshal.  His  Majesty's  chaplain  de- 
livered the  body  to  the  archpriest.  The  Prince  of  Eckmuhl 
addressed  to  the  new  Duke  of  Montebello  the  condolences 
of  the  army,  and  the  prince  archchancelor  deposited  on  the 
bier  the  medal  destined  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  these 
funeral  honors  of  the  warrior  to  whom  they  were  paid, 
and  of  the  services  which  so  well  merited  them.  Then 
all  the  crowd  passed  away,  and  there  remained  in  the 
church  only  a  few  old  servants  of  the  marshal,  who  hon- 
ored his  memory  as  much  and  even  more  by  the  tears 
which  they  shed  in  silence  than  did  all  this  public  mourn- 
ing and  imposing  ceremony.  They  recognized  me,  for 
we  had  been  together  on  the  campaign.  I  remained  some 
time  with  them,  and  we  left  the  Pantheon  together. 

During  my  short  excursion  to  Paris,  their  Majesties  had 
left  Saint-Cloud  for  Rambouillet,  so  I  set  out  to  rejoin  them 
with  the  equipages  of  the  marshal,  Prince  de  Neuchatel,  who 
had  left  court  temporarily  to  be  present  at  the  obsequies  of 
the  brave  Duke  of  Montebello. 

It  was,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  on  arriving  at  Rambouillet 
that  I  learned  the  particulars  of  a  duel  which  had  taken 
place  that  day  between  two  gentlemen,  pages  of  his  Majesty. 
I  do  not  recall  the  subject  of  the  quarrel ;  but,  though  very- 
trivial  in  its  origin,  it  became  very  serious  from  the  course  of 
conduct  to  which  it  led.  It  was  a  dispute  between  school- 
boys; but  these  school-boys  wore  swords,  and  regarded  eaeh 


290  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

other,  not  without  reason,  as  more  than  three-fourths  sol- 
diers ,  so  they  had  decided  to  fight.  But  for  this  fight, 
two  things  were  necessary,  —  time  and  secrecy ;  as  to  their 
time,  it  was  employed  from  four  or  five  in  the  morning  till 
nine  in  the  evening,  almost  constantly,  and  secrecy  was  not 
maintained. 

M.  d'Assigny,  a  man  of  rare  merit  and  fine  character, 
was  then  sub-governor  of  the  pages,  by  whom  his  faithful- 
ness, kindness,  and  justice  had  caused  him  to  be  much 
beloved.  Wishing  to  prevent  a  calamity,  he  called  before 
him  the  two  adversaries  ;  but  these  young  men,  destined  for 
army  service,  would  hear  of  no  other  reparation  than  the 
duel.  M.  d'Assigny  had  too  much  tact  to  attempt  to  argue 
with  them,  knowing  that  he  would  not  have  been  obeyed ; 
but  he  offered  himself  as  second,  was  accepted  by  the  young 
men,  and  being  given  the  selection  of  arms,  chose  the  pistol, 
and  appointed  as  the  time  of  meeting  an  early  hour  next  morn- 
ing, and  everything  was  conducted  in  the  order  usual  to  such 
affairs.  One  of  the  pages  shot  first,  and  missed  his  adver- 
sary ;  the  other  discharged  his  weapon  in  the  air,  upon  which 
they  immediately  rushed  into  each  other's  arms,  and  M.  d'As- 
signy took  this  opportunity  of  giving  them  a  truly  paternal 
lecture.  Moreover,  the  worthy  sub-governor  not  only  kept 
their  secret,  but  he  kept  his  own  also ;  for  the  pistols  loaded 
by  M.  d'Assigny  contained  only  cork  balls  ;  a  fact  of  which 
the  young  men  are  still  ignorant. 

Some  persons  saw  the  25th  of  August,  which  was  the  fete 
day  of  the  Empress,  arrive  with  feelings  of  curiosity.  They 
thought  that  from  a  fear  of  exciting  the  memories  of  the 
royalists,  the  Emperor  would  postpone  this  solemnity  to  an- 
other period  of  the  year,  which  he  could  easily  have  done 


THE  FETE  OF  ST   LOUIS.  291 

by  feting  his  august  spouse  under  the  name  of  Marie.  But 
the  Emperor  was  not  deterred  by  such  fears,  and  it  is  also 
very  probable  that  he  was  the  only  one  in  the  chateau  to 
whom  no  such  idea  occurred.  Secure  in  his  power,  and  the 
hopes  that  the  French  nation  then  built  upon  him,  he  knew 
well  that  he  had  nothing  to  dread  from  exiled  princes,  or 
from  a  party  which  appeared  dead  without  the  least  chance 
of  resurrection.  I  have  heard  it  asserted  since,  and  veiy 
seriously  too,  that  his  Majesty  was  wrong  to  fete  Saint 
Louis,  which  had  brought  him  misfortune,  etc. ;  but  these 
prognostications,  made  afterwards,  did  not  then  occupy  the 
thoughts  of  any  one,  and  Saint  Louis  was  celebrated  in 
honor  of  the  Empress  Marie  Louise  with  almost  unparal- 
leled pomp  and  brilliancy. 

A  few  days  after  these  rejoicings,  their  Majesties  held 
in  the  Bois  de  Boulogne  a  review  of  the  regiments  of  the 
Imperial  Guard  of  Holland,  which  the  Emperor  had  re- 
cently ordered  to  Paris.  In  honor  of  their  arrival  his 
Majesty  had  placed  here  and  there  in  the  walks  of  the 
Bois  casks  of  wine  with  the  heads  knocked  in,  so  that 
each  soldier  could  drink  at  will ;  but  this  imperial  muni- 
ficence had  serious  results  which  might  have  become  fatal. 
The  Holland  soldiery  more  accustomed  to  strong  beer  than 
to  wine,  nevertheless  found  the  latter  much  to  their  taste, 
and  imbibed  it  in  such  great  quantities,  that  in  conse- 
quence their  heads  were  turned  to  an  alarming  extent. 
They  began  at  first  with  some  encounters,  either  among 
themselves  or  with  the  curious  crowd  who  observed  them 
too  closely.  Just  then  a  storm  arose  suddenly,  and  the 
promenaders  of  Saint-Cloud  and  its  environs  hastened  to 
return  to  Paris,   passing   hurriedly  through   the   Bois   de 


292  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

Boulogne ;  and  these  Hollanders,  now  in  an  almost  com- 
plete state  of  intoxication,  began  fighting  with  each  other 
in  the  woods,  stopping  all  the  women  who  passed,  and 
threatening  very  rudely  the  men  by  whom  most  of  them 
were  accompanied.  In  a  flash  the  Bois  resounded  with 
cries  of  terror,  shouts,  oaths,  and  innumerable  combats. 
Some  frightened  persons  ran  as  far  as  Saint-Cloud,  where 
the  Emperor  then  was ;  and  he  was  no  sooner  informed 
of  this  commotion,  than  he  ordered  squad  after  squad  of 
police  to  march  on  the  Hollanders  and  bring  them  to  rea- 
son. His  Majesty  was  very  angry,  and  said,  "  Has  any 
one  ever  seen  anything  equal  to  these  big  heads  ?  See 
them  turned  topsy-turvy  by  two  glasses  of  wine  !  "  but 
in  spite  of  this  jesting,  the  Emperor  was  not  without  some 
anxiety,  and  placed  himself  at  the  grating  of  the  park, 
opposite  the  bridge,  and  in  person  gave  directions  to  the 
officers  and  soldiers  sent  to  restore  order.  Unfortunately 
the  darkness  was  too  far  advanced  for  the  soldiers  to  see 
in  what  direction  to  march;  and  there  is  no  knowing  how 
it  would  have  ended  if  an  officer  of  one  of  the  patrol 
guards  had  not  conceived  the  happy  idea  of  calling  out, 
"The  Emperor!  there  is  the  Emperor!  "  And  the  sentinels 
repeated  after  him,  "  There  is  the  Emperor,"  while  char- 
ging the  most  mutinous  Hollanders.  And  such  was  the 
terror  inspired  in  these  soldiers  by  the  simple  name  of  his 
Majesty,  that  thousands  of  armed  men,  drunken  and  furi- 
ous, dispersed  before  this  name  alone,  and  regained  their 
quarters  as  quickly  and  secretly  as  they  could.  A  few 
were  arrested  and  severely  punished. 

I  have  already  said  that  the   Emperor  often  superin- 
tended the   toilet  of  the   Empress,  and  even   that  of  her 


THE  EMPEROR  AS   GODFATHER.  293 

ladies.  In  fact,  he  liked  all  the  persons  surrounding  him 
to  be  well  and  even  richly  dressed. 

But  about  this  time  he  gave  an  order  the  wisdom  of 
which  I  much  admired.  Having  often  to  hold  at  the  bap- 
tismal font  the  children  of  his  grand  officers,  and  foreseeing 
that  the  parents  would  not  fail  to  dress  their  new-born 
babes  in  magnificent  toilets,  the  Emperor  ordered  that 
children  presented  for  baptism  should  wear  only  a  simple 
long  linen  robe. 

This  prudent  measure  spared  at  the  same  time  the 
purse  and  the  vanity  of  the  parents.  I  remarked  during 
this  ceremony  that  the  Emperor  had  some  trouble  in 
paying  the  necessaiy  attention  to  the  questions  of  the 
officiating  priest.  The  Emperor  was  usually  very  absent- 
minded  during  the  services  at  church,  which  were  not 
long,  as  they  never  lasted  more  than  ten  or  fifteen  min- 
utes ;  and  yet  I  have  been  told  that  his  Majesty  asked  if 
it  were  not  possible  to  perform  them  in  less  time.  He 
bit  his  nails,  took  snuff  oftener  than  usual,  and  looked 
about  him  constantly,  while  a  prince  of  the  church  use- 
lessly took  the  trouble  to  turn  the  leaves  of  his  Majesty's 
book,  in  order  to  follow  the  service. 


294  RECOLLECTIONS    OF  NAPOLEON. 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

Pregnancy  of  Marie  Louise.  — What  was  thought  of  it  in  public.  —  Beginning 
of  her  illness. — All  the  palace  in  commotion.  —  M.  Dubois.  —  The  Em- 
peror's agitation.  — He  is  summoned  from  the  bath-hall. —  The  Emperor's 
words. — He  goes  up  to  the  apartment  of  Marie  Louise.  —  The  instru- 
ments.—  Marie  Louise's  words.  —  The  Emperor  listens  in  agony  at  the 
door  of  the  room.  —  Madame  de  Montesquieu.  —  The  King  of  Rome 
comes  into  the  world.  — Paternal  joy  of  the  Emperor.  —  What  he  said  to 
me.  —  Booming  of  cannon. — Appearance  of  the  streets  of  Paris. — The 
twenty-second  discharge. — Madame  Blanchard.  —  Pages  serving  as  cou- 
riers. —  Paris  to  the  sixth  and  seventh  stories.  —  Poets.  —  Goods.  —  The 
ceremony  of  anointing.  — Again  Madame  Blanchard.  —  The  balloon  falls. 
—  A  whole  village  lamenting  the  death  of  an  aeronaut  who  is  in  Paris 
in  perfect  health.  —  Doubts  as  to  Marie  Louise's  pregnancy.  —  Napoleon 
accused  of  libertinage. — His  love  for  his  children. — My  son  dies  of 
croup.  —  The  Emperor's  words.  — My  wife  at  Malmaison.  — Kind  act  of 
Josephine  —  Consolation. 

The  pregnancy  of  Marie  Louise  had  been  free  from 
accident,  and  promised  a  happy  deliverance,  which  was 
awaited  by  the  Emperor  with  an  impatience  in  which 
France  had  joined  for  a  long  while.  It  was  a  curious 
tiling  to  observe  the  state  of  the  public  mind,  while  the 
people  formed  all  sorts  of  conjectures,  and  made  unan- 
imous and  ardent  prayers  that  the  child  should  be  a  son, 
who  might  receive  the  vast  inheritance  of  Imperial  glory. 
The  19th  of  March,  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the 
Empress  was  taken  ill ;  and  from  that  moment  the  whole 
palace  was  in  commotion.  The  Emperor  was  informed, 
and  sent  immediately  for  M.  Dubois,  who  had  been  stay- 
ing constantly  at  the  chateau  for  some  time  past,  and  whose 
attentions  were  so  valued  at  such  a  time. 


MARIE    LOUISE'S    ILLNESS.  295 

All  the  private  household  of  the  Empress,  as  well  as 
Madame  de  Montesquieu,  were  gathered  in  the  apartment, 
the  Emperor,  his  mother,  sisters,  Messieurs  Corvisart, 
Bourdier,  and  Yvan  in  an   adjoining  room. 

The  Emperor  came  in  frequently,  and  encouraged  his 
young  wife.  In  the  interior  of  the  palace,  the  attention 
was  eager,  impassioned,  clamorous ;  and  each  vied  with  the 
other  as  to  who  should  first  have  the  news  of  the  birth 
of  the  child.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  as  the  sit- 
uation of  the  Empress  continued  the  same,  the  Emperor 
ordered  every  one  to  retire,  and  himself  withdrew  in  order 
to  take  his  bath ;  for  the  anxiety  he  had  undergone  made 
a  moment  of  repose  very  necessary  to  him  in  Ins  great 
agitation.  After  fifteen  minutes  spent  in  the  bath  he 
was  hastily  summoned,  as  the  condition  of  the  Empress 
had  become  both  critical  and  dangerous.  Hastily  throw- 
ing on  Iris  dressing-gown,  he  returned  to  the  apartment  of 
the  Empress,  and  tenderly  encouraged  her,  holding  her 
hand.  The  physician,  M.  Dubois,  informed  him  that  it 
was  improbable  both  mother  and  child  could  be  saved; 
whereupon  he  cried,  "Come,  M.  Dubois,  keep  your  wits 
about  you  !  Save  the  mother,  think  only  of  the  mother, 
I  order  you." 

As  the  intense  suffering  continued,  it  became  necessary 
to  use  instruments ;  and  Marie  Louise,  perceiving  this,  ex- 
claimed with  bitterness,  "  Is  it  necessaiy  to  sacrifice  me 
because  I  am  an  Empress  ?  "  The  Emperor  overcome  by 
his  emotions  had  retired  to  the  dressing-room,  pale  as 
death,  and  almost  beside  himself.  At  last  the  child  came 
into  the  world  ;  and  the  Emperor  immediately  rushed  into 
the  apartment,  embracing  the  Empress  with  extreme  tender- 


296  BECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ness,  without  glancing  at  the  child,  which  was  thought  to 
be  dead ;  and  in  fact,  it  was  seven  minutes  before  he  gave 
any  signs  of  life,  though  a  few  drops  of  brandy  were  blown 
into  his  mouth  and  many  efforts  made  to  revive  him.  At 
last  he  uttered  a  cry. 

The  Emperor  rushed  from  the  Empress's  arms  to  em- 
brace this  child,  whose  birth  was  for  him  the  last  and 
highest  favor  of  fortune,  and  seemed  almost  beside  him- 
self with  joy,  rushing  from  the  son  to  the  mother,  from 
the  mother  to  the  son,  as  if  he  could  not  sufficiently  feast 
his  eyes  on  either.  When  he  entered  his  room  to  make 
his  toilet,  his  face  beamed  with  joy ;  and,  seeing  me,  he 
exclaimed,  "  Well,  Constant,  we  have  a  big  boy !  He  is 
well  made  to  pinch  ears  for  example ;  "  announcing  it  thus 
to  every  one  he  met.  It  was  in  these  effusions  of  domestic 
bliss  that  I  could  appreciate  how  deeply  this  great  soul, 
which  was  thought  impressible  only  to  glory,  felt  the  joys 
of  family  life. 

From  the  moment  the  great  bell  of  Notre  Dame  and 
the  bells  of  the  different  churches  of  Paris  sounded  in 
the  middle  of  the  night,  until  the  hour  when  the  can- 
non announced  the  happy  delivery  of  the  Empress,  an  ex- 
treme agitation  was  felt  throughout  Paris.  At  break  of 
day  the  crowd  rushed  towards  the  Tuileries,  and  filled  the 
streets  and  quays,  all  awaiting  in  anxious  suspense  the  first 
discharge  of  the  cannon.  But  this  curious  sight  was  not 
only  seen  in  the  Tuileries  and  neighboring  districts,  but 
at  half-past  nine  in  streets  far  removed  from  the  chateau, 
and  in  all  parts  of  Paris,  people  could  be  seen  stopping  to 
count  with  emotion  the  discharges  of  the  cannon. 

The  twenty-second  discharge  which  announced  the  birth 


BIRTH  OF  THE  KING   OF  ROME.  297 

of  a  boy  was  hailed  with  general  acclamations.  To  the 
silence  of  expectation,  which  had  arrested  as  if  by  en- 
chantment the  steps  of  all  persons  scattered  over  all  parts 
of  the  city,  succeeded  a  burst  of  enthusiasm  almost  inde- 
scribable. In  this  twenty-second x  boom  of  the  cannon  was 
a  whole  dynasty,  a  whole  future,  and  simultaneously  hats 
went  up  in  the  air;  people  ran  over  each  other,  and  em- 
braced those  to  whom  they  were  strangers  amid  shouts  of 
"  Vive  V JEmpereur ! '"  Old  soldiers  shed  tears  of  joy,  think- 
ing that  they  had  contributed  by  their  labors  and  their 
fatigues  to  prepare  the  heritage  of  the  King  of  Rome,  and 
that  their  laurels  would  wave  over  the  cradle  of  a  dynasty. 

Napoleon,  concealed  behind  a  curtain  at  one  of  the 
windows  of  the  Empress's  room,  enjoyed  the  sight  of  the 
popular  joy,  and  seemed  deeply  touched.  Great  tears  rolled 
from  his  eyes,  and  overcome  by  emotion  he  came  again  to 
embrace  his  son.  Never  had  glory  made  him  shed  a  tear; 
but  the  happiness  of  being  a  father  had  softened  this  heart 
on  which  the  most  brilliant  victories  and  the  most  sincere 
testimonials  of  public  admiration  seemed  hardly  to  make 
an  impression.  And  in  truth  Napoleon  had  a  right  to 
believe  in  his  good  fortune,  which  had  reached  its  height 
on  the  day  when  an  archduchess  of  Austria  made  him  the 
father  of.  a  king,  who  had  begim  as  a  cadet  in  a  Corsioan 
family.  At  the  end  of  a  few  hours  the  event  which  was 
awaited  with  equal  impatience  by  France  and  Europe  had 
become  the  personal  joy  of  every  household. 

At  half-past  ten  Madame  Blanchard  set  out  from 
I? fceole  Militaire  in  a  balloon  for  the  purpose  of  carrying 

1  It  had  heen  announced  in  the  papers  that  if  it  was  a  girl  a  salute  of 
twenty-one  guns  would  be  fired  ;  if  a  hoy,  one  hundred  guns.  —  Trans. 


298  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

into  all  the  towns  and  villages  through  which  she  passed, 
the  news  of  the  birth  of  the  King  of  Rome. 

The  telegraph  carried  the  happy  news  in  every  direc- 
tion ;  and  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  replies  had  already 
been  received  from  Lyons,  Lille,  Brussels,  Antwerp,  Brest, 
and  many  other  large  towns  of  the  Empire,  which  replies, 
as  may  well  be  imagined  were  in  perfect  accord  with  the 
sentiments  entertained  at  the  capital. 

In  order  to  respond  to  the  eagerness  of  the  crowd  which 
pressed  continually  around  the  doors  of  the  palace  to  learn 
of  the  welfare  of  the  Empress  and  her  august  child,  it  was 
decided  that  one  of  the  chamberlains  should  stand  from 
morning  till  evening  in  the  first  saloon  of  the  state  apart- 
ments, to  receive  those  who  came,  and  inform  them  of  the 
bulletins  which  her  Majesty's  physicians  issued  twice  a  day. 
At  the  end  of  a  few  hours,  special  couriers  were  sent  on  all 
roads  leading  to  foreign  courts,  bearing  the  news  of  the  de- 
livery of  the  Empress ;  the  Emperor's  pages  being  charged 
with  this  mission  to  the  Senate  of  Italy,  and  the  munici- 
pal bodies  of  Milan  and  Rome.  Orders  were  given  in  the 
fortified  towns  and  ports  that  the  same  salutes  should  be 
fired  as  at  Paris,  and  that  the  fleets  should  be  decorated.  A 
beautiful  evening  favored  the  special  rejoicings  at  the 
capital  where  the  houses  were  voluntarily  illuminated. 
Those  who  seek  to  ascertain  by  external  appearances  the 
real  feelings  of  a  people  amid  events  of  this  kind,  remarked 
that  the  topmost  stories  of  houses  in  the  faubourgs  were 
as  well  lighted  as  the  most  magnificent  hotels  and  finest 
houses  of  the  capital.  Public  buildings,  which  under  other 
circumstances  are  remarkable  from  the  darkness  of  the  sur- 
rounding houses,  were  scarcely  seen  amid  this  profusion 


FETES  AT    THIS  PERIOD.  299 

of  lights  with  which  public  gratitude  had  lighted  every 
window.  The  boatmen  gave  an  impromptu  fete  which  lasted 
part  of  the  night,  and  to  witness  which  an  immense  crowd 
covered  the  shore,  testifying  the  most  ardent  joy.  This 
people,  who  for  thirty  years  had  passed  through  so  many 
different  emotions,  and  who  had  celebrated  so  many  vic- 
tories, showed  as  much  enthusiasm  as  if  it  had  been  their 
first  fete,  or  a  happy  change  in  their  destiny.  Verses  were 
sung  or  recited  at  all  the  theaters ;  and  there  was  no  poetic 
formula,  from  the  ode  to  the  fable,  which  was  not  made  use 
of  to  celebrate  the  event  of  the  20th  of  March,  1811.  I 
learned  from  a  well-informed  person  that  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  thousand  francs  from  the  private  funds  of  the 
Emperor  was  distributed  by  M.  Dequevauvilliers,  secretary 
of  the  treasury  of  the  chamber,  among  the  authors  of  the 
poetry  sent  to  the  Tuileries ;  and  finally,  fashion,  which 
makes  use  of  the  least  events,  invented  stuffs  called  roi-de- 
Rome,  as  in  the  old  regime  they  had  been  called  dauphin. 
On  the  evening  of  the  20th  of  March  at  nine  o'clock  the 
King  of  Rome  was  anointed  in  the  chapel  of  the  Tuileries. 
This  was  a  most  magnificent  ceremony.  The  Emperor 
Napoleon,  surrounded  by  the  princes  and  princesses  of  his 
whole  court,  placed  him  in  the  center  of  the  chapel  on  a 
sofa  surmounted  by  a  canopy  with  a  Prie-Dieu.  Between 
the  altar  and  the  balustrade  had  been  placed  on  a  carpet 
of  white  velvet  a  pedestal  of  granite  surmounted  by  a  hand- 
some silver  gilt  vase  to  be  used  as  a  baptismal  font.  The 
Emperor  was  grave ;  but  paternal  tenderness  diffused  over 
his  face  an  expression  of  happiness,  and  it  might  have  been 
said  that  he  felt  himself  half  relieved  of  the  burdens  of  the 
Empire  on  seeing  the  august  child  who  seemed  destined  to 


300  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

receive  it  one  day  from  the  hands  of  his  father.  When 
he  approached  the  baptismal  font  to  present  the  child  to 
be  anointed  there  was  a  moment  of  silence  and  religious 
contemplation,  which  formed  a  touching  contrast  to  the 
vociferous  gayety  which  at  the  same  moment  animated  the 
crowd  outside,  whom  the  spectacle  of  the  brilliant  fire- 
works had  drawn  from  all  parts  of  Paris  to  the  Tuileries. 

Madame  Blanchard,  who  as  I  have  said  had  set  out  in 
her  balloon  an  hour  after  the  birth  of  the  King  of  Rome, 
to  carry  the  news  into  all  places  she  passed,  first  de- 
scended at  Saint-Tiebault  near  Lagny,  and  from  there,  as 
the  wind  had  subsided,  returned  to  Paris.  Her  balloon 
rose  after  her  departure,  and  fell  at  a  place  six  leagues 
farther  on,  and  the  inhabitants,  finding  in  this  balloon  only 
clothing  and  provisions,  did  not  doubt  that  the  intrepid 
aeronaut  had  been  killed ;  but  fortunately  just  as  her  death 
was  announced  at  Paris,  Madame  Blanchard  herself  arrived 
and  dispelled  all  anxiety. 

Many  persons  had  doubted  Marie  Louise's  pregnancy. 
Some  believed  it  assumed,  and  I  never  could  comprehend 
the  foolish  reasons  given  by  these  persons  on  this  subject 
which  malevolence  tried  to  disseminate.  But  a  very  sin- 
gular fact  which  carries  its  own  proof  is,  that  among  the 
great  number  of  these  evil-thinking,  suspicious  persons,  one 
part  accused  the  Emperor  of  being  a  libertine,  supposing 
him  the  father  of  many  natural  children,  and  the  other 
thought  him  incapable  of  obtaining  children  even  by  a 
young  princess  only  nineteen  years  of  age,  their  hatred 
thus  blinding  their  judgment.  If  Napoleon  had  natural 
children,  why  could  he  not  have  legitimate  ones,  especially 
with  a  young  wife  who  was  known  to  be  in  most  flourish- 


THE  EMPEROR'S   LOVE  FOR  HIS  SON.  301 

ing  health.  Besides,  it  was  not  the  first,  as  it  was  not  the 
last,  shaft  of  malice  aimed  at  Napoleon ;  for  his  position 
was  too  high,  his  glory  too  brilliant,  not  to  inspire  exagger- 
ated sentiments  whether  of  joy  or  hatred. 

There  were  also  some  ill-wishers  who  took  pleasure  in 
saying  that  Napoleon  was  incapable  of  tender  sentiments, 
and  that  the  happiness  of  being  a  father  could  not  penetrate 
this  heart  so  filled  with  ambition  as  to  exclude  all  else. 
I  can  cite,  among  many  others  in  my  knowledge,  a  little 
anecdote  which  touched  me  exceedingly,  and  which  I  take 
much  pleasure  in  relating,  since,  while  it  triumphantly  an- 
swers the  calumnies  of  which  I  have  spoken,  it  also  proves 
the  special  consideration  with  which  his  Majesty  honored 
me,  and  consequently,  both  as  a  father  and  a  faithful  ser- 
vant, I  experience  a  mild  satisfaction  in  placing  it  in  these 
Memoirs.  Napoleon  was  very  fond  of  children  ;  and  having 
one  day  asked  me  to  bring  mine  to  him,  I  went  to  seek  him. 
Meanwhile  Talleyrand  was  announced  to  the  Emperor ;  and 
as  the  interview  lasted  a  long  time,  my  child  grew  weary  of 
waiting,  and  I  carried  him  back  to  his  mother.  A  short 
time  after  he  was  taken  with  croup,  which  cruel  disease, 
concerning  which  his  Majesty  had  made  a  special  appeal 
to  the  faculty  of  Paris,1  snatched  many  children  from  their 
families.  Mine  died  at  Paris.  We  were  then  at  the  cha- 
teau of  Compiegne,  and  I  received  the  sad  news  just  as  I 
was  preparing  to  go  to  the  toilet.  I  was  too  much  over- 
come by  my  loss  to  perform  my  duties;  and  when  the  Em- 
peror asked  what  prevented  my  coming,  and  was  told  that 
I  had  just  heard  of  the  death  of  my  son,  said  kindly,  "  Poor 

1  On  tins,  occasion  of  the  death  from  croup  in  1807  of  his  heir  presump- 
tive, the  young  son  of  the  King  of  Holland. —  Trans. 


302  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

Constant!   what  a  terrible  sorrow!     We  fathers  alone  can 
know  what  it  is  !" 

A  short  time  after,  my  wife  went  to  see  the  Empress 
Josephine  at  Malmaison ;  and  this  lovely  princess  deigned 
to  receive  her  alone  in  the  little  room  in  front  of  her  bed- 
room. There  she  seated  herself  beside  her,  and  tried  in 
touching  words  of  sympathy  to  console  her,  saying  that 
this  stroke  did  not  reach  us  alone,  and  that  her  grandson, 
too,  had  died  of  the  same  disease.  As  she  said  this  she 
began  to  weep ;  for  this  remembrance  reopened  in  her  soul 
recent  griefs,  and  my  wife  bathed  with  tears  the  hands  of 
this  excellent  princess.  Josephine  added  many  touching 
remarks,  trying  to  alleviate  her  sorrow  by  sharing  it,  and 
thus  restore  resignation  to  the  heart  of  the  poor  mother. 
The  remembrance  of  this  kindness  helped  to  calm  our  grief, 
and  I  confess  that  it  is  at  once  both  an  honor  and  a  conso- 
lation to  recall  the  august  sympathy  which  the  loss  of  this 
dear  child  excited  in  the  hearts  of  Napoleon  and  Josephine. 
The  world  will  never  know  how  much  sensibility  and  com- 
passion Josephine  felt  for  the  sorrows  of  others,  and  all 
the  treasures  of  goodness  contained  in  her  beautiful  soul. 


MARIE  LOUISE  AND  JOSEPHINE.  303 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

Marie  Louise  and  Josephine.  —  The  young  Empress'  simplicity.  —  She  thinks 
herself  ill.  —  Pills  of  bread  and  sugar.  —  German  expressions  of  Marie 
Louise.  —  Napoleon's  tenderness.  —  Severe  etiquette.  —  Cordial  welcomes 
of  the  Empress.  —  Caen.  —  An  act  of  kindness.  —  Cherbourg.  —  A  descent 
into  the  basin  of  Cherbourg. — Baptism  of  the  King  of  Rome. — Sou- 
venirs of  the  fete.  —  The  Emperor  presents  his  son  to  those  present. — 
Banquet  and  concert  at  the  Hotel  de  Ville.  —  Kind  words.  —  The  Tibei 
at  Paris. — The  balloonist  Garnerin. — The  provinces. — The  Puy-de- 
Dome  in  flames. — The  sea  on  fire  in  the  port  of  Flushing. — Other 
fetes.  —  The  road  to  Saint-Cloud.  —  Fountains  of  barley-water  and  currant 
wine.  —  Shrubs  for  lamp-posts.  —  Madame  Blanchard.  —  The  air-balloon. 

—  The  great  star  and  the  smaller  stars.  —  Fairyland.  —  The  doves. — 
The  storm.  —  The  Emperor  and   the  mayor  of  Lyons.  —  The  courtiers. 

—  The  musicians.  —  Prince  Aldobrandini. — The  Prince  and  Princess 
Borghese. — The  men  of  bad  omen.  —  Women  without  shoes.  —  No  car- 
riages. —  Act  of  gallantry  and  kindness  of  M.  de  Re'musat. 

Napoleon  was  accustomed  to  compare  Marie  Louise 
with  Josephine,  attributing  to  the  latter  all  the  advan- 
tages of  art  and  grace,  and  to  the  former  all  the  charms  of 
simplicity,  modesty,  and  innocence.  Sometimes,  however, 
this  simplicity  had  in  it  something  childish,  an  instance  of 
which  I  received  from  good  authority.  The  young  Empress, 
thinking  herself  sick,  consulted  M.  Corvisart,  who,  finding 
that  her  imagination  alone  was  at  fault,  and  that  she  was 
suffering  simply  from  the  nervousness  natural  to  a  young 
woman,  ordered,  as  his  only  prescription,  a  box  of  pills 
composed  of  bread  and  sugar,  which  the  Empress  was  to 
take  regularly ;  after  doing  which  Marie  Louise  found  her- 
self better,  and  thanked  M.  Corvisart,  who  did  not  think 


304  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

proper,  as  may  well  be  believed,  to  enlighten  her  as  to  his 
little  deception.  Having  been  educated  in  a  German  court, 
and  having  learned  French  only  from  masters,  Marie  Louise 
spoke  the  language  with  the  difficulty  usually  found  in 
expressing  one's  self  in  a  foreign  tongue.  Among  the  awk- 
ward expressions  she  often  used,  but  which  in  her  graceful 
mouth  were  not  without  a  certain  charm,  the  one  which 
struck  me  especially,  because  it  often  recurred,  was  this: 
'■'•Napoleon  qu'est  ee  que  veux-tu? •"  The  Emperor  showed 
the  deepest  affection  for  his  young  wife,  and  at  the  same 
time  made  her  conform  to  all  the  rules  of  etiquette,  to 
which  the  Empress  submitted  with  the  utmost  grace.  In 
the  month  of  May,  1811,  their  Majesties  made  a  journey 
into  the  departments  of  Calvados  and  La  Manche,  where 
they  were  received  with  enthusiasm  by  all  the  towns ;  and 
the  Emperor  made  his  stay  at  Caen  memorable  by  his 
gifts,  favors,  and  acts  of  benevolence.  Many  young  men 
belonging  to  good  families  received  sub-lieutenancies,  and 
one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  francs  were  devoted 
to  various  charities.  From  Caen  their  Majesties  went  to 
Cherbourg.  The  day  after  their  arrival  the  Emperor  set 
out  on  horseback  early  in  the  morning,  visited  the  heights 
of  the  town,  and  embarked  on  several  vessels,  while  the  pop- 
ulace pressed  around  him  crying,  "  Vive  I  '  Empereur  !  "  The 
following  day  his  Majesty  held  several  Councils,  and  in  the 
evening  visited  all  the  marine  buildings,  and  descended  to 
the  bottom  of  the  basin  which  is  cut  out  of  the  solid  rock  in 
order  to  allow  the  passage  of  vessels  of  the  line,  and  which 
was  to  be  covered  with  fifty-five  feet  of  water.  On  this 
brilliant  journey  the  Empress  received  her  share  of  the  en- 
thusiasm of  the  inhabitants,  and  in  return,  at  the  different 


BAPTISM  OF  TIIE  KING   OF  ROME.  305 

receptions  which  took  place,  gave  a  graceful  welcome  to  the 
authorities  of  the  country.  I  dwell  purposely  on  these  de- 
tails, as  they  prove  that  joy  over  the  birth  of  the  King  of 
Rome  was  not  confined  to  Paris  alone,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
the  provinces  were  in  perfect  sympathy  with  the  capital. 

The  return  of  their  Majesties  to  Paris  brought  with  them 
a  return  of  rejoicings  and  fetes  on  the  occasion  of  the  bap- 
tismal ceremony  of  the  King  of  Rome,  and  the  fetes  by  which 
it  was  accompanied  were  celebrated  at  Paris  with  a  pomp 
worthy  of  their  object.  They  had  as  spectators  the  entire 
population  of  Paris,  increased  by  a  prodigious  crowd  of 
strangers  of  every  class. 

At  four  o'clock  the  Senate  left  its  palace  ;  the  Council  of 
State,  the  Tuileries;  the  Corps  Legislatif,  its  palace;  the 
Court  of  Cassation,  the  Court  of  Accounts,  the  Council  of 
the  University,  and  the  Imperial  Court,  the  ordinary  places 
of  their  sittings;  the  municipal  corps  of  Paris  and  the  depu- 
tations from  the  forty-nine  good  towns,  the  Hotel  de  Ville. 
On  their  arrival  at  the  Metropolitan  Church  these  bodies 
were  placed  by  the  master  of  ceremonies  with  his  aides, 
according  to  their  rank,  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  throne, 
reaching  from  the  choir  to  the  middle  of  the  nave.  The 
diplomatic  corps  at  five  o'clock  took  their  place  on  the  plat- 
form erected  for  this  purpose. 

At  half-past  five  cannon  announced  the  departure  of 
their  Majesties  from  the  Tuileries.  The  Imperial  proces- 
sion was  dazzlingly  magnificent;  the  fine  bearing  of  the 
troops,  the  richness  and  elegance  of  the  carriages,  the  bril- 
liant costumes,  made  up  a  ravishing  spectacle.  The  accla- 
mations of  the  people  which  resounded  on  their  Majesties' 
route,  the  houses  hung  with  garlands  and  drapery,  the  ban- 


306  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

ners  streaming  from  the  windows,  the  long  line  of  carriages, 
the  trappings  and  accouterments  of  which  progressively 
increased  in  magnificence,  following  each  other  as  in  the 
order  of  a  hierarchy,  this  immense  paraphernalia  of  a  fete 
which  inspired  true  feeling  and  hopes  for  the  future  —  all 
this  is  profoundly  engraved  on  my  memory,  and  often 
occupies  the  long  leisure  hours  of  the  old  servitor  of  a 
family  which  has  disappeared.  The  baptismal  ceremony 
took  place  with  unusual  pomp  and  solemnity.  After  the 
baptism  the  Emperor  took  his  august  son  in  his  arms,  and 
presented  him  to  the  clergy  present.  Immediately  the  accla- 
mations, which  had  been  repressed  till  then  from  respect 
to  the  ceremony  and  the  sanctity  of  the  place,  burst  forth 
on  all  sides.  The  prayers  being  ended,  their  Majesties,  at 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  went  to  the  Hotel  de  Ville, 
and  were  there  received  by  the  municipal  corps.  A  bril- 
liant concert  and  a  sumptuous  banquet  had  been  tendered 
them  by  the  city  of  Paris.  The  decorations  of  the  ban- 
quet hall  showed  the  arms  of  the  forty-nine  good  cities,  — 
Paris,  Rome,  Amsterdam,  being  placed  first,  and  the  forty- 
six  others  in  alphabetical  order.  After  the  banquet  their 
Majesties  took  their  places  in  the  concert  hall ;  and  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  concert  they  repaired  to  the  throne  room, 
where  all  invited  persons  formed  a  circle.  The  Emperor 
passed  round  this  circle,  speaking  affably,  sometimes  even 
familiarly,  to  most  of  the  persons  who  composed  it,  each 
of  whom  responded  in  the  most  cordial  manner. 

At  last,  before  retiring,  their  Majesties  were  invited  to 
pass  into  the  artificial  garden  which  had  been  made  in  the 
court  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  the  decorations  of  which  were 
very  elegant.     At  the  bottom  of  the  garden,  the  Tiber  was 


THE  AERONAUT.  307 

represented  by  flowing  water,  the  course  of  which  was 
directed  most  artistically,  and  diffused  a  refreshing  cool- 
ness. Their  Majesties  left  the  Hotel  de  Ville  about  half- 
past  eleven,  and  returned  to  the  Tuileries  by  the  light  of 
most  beautiful  illuminations  and  luminous  emblems,  de- 
signed in  most  exquisite  taste.  Perfect  weather  and  a 
delightful  temperature  favored  this  memorable  day. 

The  aeronaut  Garnerin  left  Paris  at  half-past  six  in  the 
evening,  and  descended  the  morning  of  the  next  day  at 
Maule,  in  the  department  of  Seine-et-Oise.  After  resting 
there  a  short  while,  he  re-entered  his  balloon  and  con- 
tinued his  journey. 

The  provinces  vied  in  magnificence  with  the  capital  in 
celebrating  the  fetes  of  the  birth  and  baptism  of  the  King 
of  Rome.  Every  imaginable  device,  both  in  emblems  and 
illuminations,  had  been  made  use  of  in  order  to  add  still 
more  pomp  to  these  fetes;  and  each  town  had  been  gov- 
erned in  the  form  of  homage  it  rendered  to  the  new  king, 
either  by  its  geographical  position  or  by  its  especial  in- 
dustry. For  instance,  at  Clermont-Ferrand  an  immense 
fire  had  been  lighted  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  on  the 
summit  of  the  Puy-de-D6me,  at  a  height  of  more  than  five 
thousand  feet ;  and  several  departments  could  enjoy  during 
the  whole  night  this  grand  and  singular  sight.  In  the  port 
of  Flushing  the  vessels  were  covered  with  flags  and  ban- 
ners of  all  colore.  In  the  evening  the  whole  squadron  was 
illuminated;  thousands  of  lanterns  hung  from  the  masts, 
yards,  and  rigging,  forming  a  beautiful  scene.  Suddenly, 
at  the  signal  of  a  gun  fired  from  the  admiral's  vessel,  all 
the  vessels  sent  forth  at  once  tongues  of  flame,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  the  most  brilliant  day  succeeded  to  the  dark- 


308  BECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON 

est  night,  outlining  magnificently  those  imposing  masses 
reflected  in  the  water  of  the  sea  as  in  a  glass. 

We  passed  so  continually  from  one  fete  to  another  it 
was  almost  confusing.  The  rejoicings  over  the  baptism 
were  followed  by  a  fete  given  by  the  Emperor  in  the  pri- 
vate park  of  Saint-Cloud,  and  from  early  in  the  morning 
the  road  from  Paris  to  Saint-Cloud  was  covered  with  car- 
riages and  men  on  foot.  The  fete  took  place  in  the  in- 
closed park  and  the  orangery,  all  the  boxes  of  which  and 
the  front  of  the  chateau  were  decorated  with  rich  hang- 
ings, while  temples  and  kiosks  rose  in  the  groves,  and 
the  whole  avenue  of  chestnut-trees  was  hung  with  gar- 
lands of  colored  glass.  Fountains  of  barley  water  and 
currant  wine  had  been  distributed  so  that  all  persons 
attending  the  fete  might  refresh  themselves,  and  tables,  ele- 
gantly arranged,  had  been  placed  in  the  walks.  The  whole 
park  was  illuminated  by  pots  a  feu  concealed  among  the 
shrubbery  and  groups  of  trees. 

Madame  Blanchard  had  received  orders  to  hold  her- 
self in  readiness  to  set  out  at  half-past  nine  at  a  given 
signal. 

At  nine  o'clock,  the  balloon  being  filled,  she  entered  the 
basket,  and  was  carried  to  the  end  of  the  basin  of  the  swans, 
in  front  of  the  chateau ;  and  until  the  moment  of  departure 
she  remained  in  this  position,  above  the  height  of  the  tallest 
trees,  and  thus  for  more  than  half  an  hour  could  be  seen 
by  all  the  spectators  present  at  the  fete.  At  half-past  nine, 
a  gun  fired  from  the  chateau  having  given  the  expected 
signal,  the  cords  which  held  the  balloon  were  cut ;  and 
immediately  the  intrepid  aeronaut  could  be  seen  rising 
majestically  into  the  air  before  the  eyes  of  the  crowd  as- 


MADAME  BLANCHAED.  309 

sembled  in  the  throne  room.  Having  arrived  at  a  certain 
height,  she  set  off  an  immense  star  constructed  around 
the  basket,  the  center  of  which  she  thus  occupied;  and 
this  star  for  seven  or  eight  moments  threw  from  its 
points  and  angles  numerous  other  small  stars,  producing  a 
most  extraordinary  effect.  It  was  the  first  time  a  woman 
had  been  seen  to  rise  boldly  into  the  air  surrounded  by  fire- 
works, and  she  appeared  as  if  sailing  in  a  chariot  of  fire  at 
an  immense  height.     I  imagined  myself  in  fairyland. 

The  whole  of  the  garden  which  their  Majesties  traversed 
presented  a  view  of  which  it  is  impossible  to  give  an  idea. 
The  illuminations  were  designed  in  perfect  taste;  there 
were  a  variety  of  amusements,  and  numerous  orchestras 
concealed  amid  the  trees  added  yet  more  to  the  enchant- 
ment. At  a  given  signal  three  doves  flew  from  the  top  of 
a  column  surmounted  with  a  vase  of  flowers,  and  offered 
to  their  Majesties  numerous  and  most  ingenious  devices. 
Farther  on  German  peasants  danced  waltzes  on  a  charming 
lawn,  and  crowned  with  flowers  the  bust  of  her  Majesty  the 
Empress,  and  shepherds  and  nymphs  from  the  opera  exe- 
cuted dances.  Finally,  a  theater  had  been  erected  in  the 
midst  of  the  trees,  on  which  was  represented  a  village  fete, 
a  comedy  composed  by  M.  Ktienne,  and  set  to  music  by 
Nicolo.  The  Emperor  and  Empress  were  seated  under  a 
dais  during  this  play,  when  suddenly  a  heavy  shower  fell, 
throwing  all  the  spectators  into  commotion.  Their  Majes- 
ties did  not  notice  the  rain  at  first,  protected  as  they  were 
by  the  dais,  and  the  Emperor  being  engaged  in  conversa- 
tion with  the  mayor  of  the  town  of  L}Tons.  The  latter  was 
complaining  of  the  sales  of  the  cloths  of  that  town,  when 
Napoleon,  noticing  the  frightful  rain  which  was  falling,  said 


310  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

to  this  functionary,  "I  answer  for  it  that  to-morrow  you 
will  have  large  orders." 

The  Emperor  kept  his  position  during  most  of  the 
storm,  while  the  courtiers,  dressed  in  silk  and  velvet,  with 
uncovered  heads,  received  the  rain  with  a  smiling  face. 
The  poor  musicians,  wet  to  the  skin,  at  last  could  no  longer 
draw  any  sound  from  their  instruments,  of  which  the  rain 
had  snapped  or  stretched  the  cords,  and  it  was  time  to  put 
an  end  to  this  state  of  affairs.  The  Emperor  gave  the  signal 
for  departure,  and  they  retired. 

On  that  day  Prince  Aldobrandini,  who  in  his  quality  of 
first  equerry  of  Marie  Louise  accompanied  the  Empress, 
was  very  happy  to  find  and  borrow  an  umbrella  in  order  to 
shelter  Marie  Louise ;  but  there  was  much  dissatisfaction 
in  the  group  where  this  borrowing  was  done  because  the 
umbrella  was  not  returned.  That  evening  the  Prince 
Borghese  and  Princess  Pauline  nearly  fell  into  the  Seine 
in  their  carriage  while  returning  to  their  country  house 
at  Neuilly.  Those  persons  who  took  pleasure  in  finding 
omens,  and  those  especially  (a  very  small  number)  who 
saw  with  chagrin  the  rejoicings  of  the  Empire,  did  not  fail 
to  remark  that  every  fete  given  to  Marie  Louise  had  been 
attended  by  some  accident.  They  spoke  affectedly  of  the 
ball  given  by  the  Prince  of  Schwartzenberg  on  the  occasion 
of  the  espousals,  and  of  the  fire  which  consumed  the  dan- 
cing-hall, and  the  tragic  death  of  several  persons,  notably  of 
the  sister  of  the  prince.  They  drew  from  this  coincidence 
bad  auguries ;  some  from  ill-will,  and  in  order  to  undermine 
the  enthusiasm  inspired  by  the  high  fortunes  of  Napoleon  ; 
others  from  a  superstitious  credulity,  as  if  there  could  have 
been  any  serious  connection  between  a  fire  which  cost  the 


THE  STOBM.  311 

lives  of  several  persons,  and  the  very  usual  accident  of  a 
storm  in  June,  which  ruined  the  toilets,  and  wet  to  the  skin 
thousands  of  spectators. 

It  was  a  very  amusing  scene  for  those  who  had  no 
finery  to  spoil,  and  who  ran  only  the  risk  of  taking  cold,  to 
see  these  poor  women  drenched  with  the  rain,  running  in 
every  direction,  with  or  without  a  cavalier,  and  hunting  for 
shelter  which  could  not  be  found. 

A  few  were  fortunate  enough  to  find  modest  umbrellas ; 
but  most  of  them  saw  the  flowers  fall  from  their  heads, 
beaten  down  by  the  rain,  or  their  finery  dripping  with 
water,  dragging  on  the  ground,  in  a  pitiable  state.  When 
it  was  time  to  return  to  Paris  the  carriages  were  missing, 
as  the  coachmen,  thinking  that  the  fete  would  last  till  day- 
light, had  prudently  thought  that  they  would  not  take  the 
trouble  to  wait  all  night.  Those  persons  with  carriages 
could  not  use  them,  as  the  press  was  so  great  that  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  move.  Several  ladies  got  lost,  and 
returned  to  Paris  on  foot;  others  lost  their  shoes,  and  it 
was  a  pitiable  sight  to  see  the  pretty  feet  in  the  mud. 
Happily  there  were  few  or  no  accidents,  and  the  physician 
and  the  bed  repaired  everything.  But  the  Emperor 
laughed  heartily  at  this  adventure,  and  said  that  the  mer- 
chants would  gain  by  it. 

M.  de  Remusat,  so  good  and  ready  to  render  a  service, 
always  forgetting  himself  for  others,  had  succeeded  in  pro- 
curing an  umbrella,  when  he  met  my  wife  and  mother-in- 
law,  who  were  escaping  like  the  others,  took  them  on  his 
arm,  and  conducted  them  to  the  palace  without  their  having 
received  the  least  injury.  For  an  hour  he  traveled  back 
and  forth  from  the  palace  to  the  park,  and  from  the  part  t<» 


812  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

the  garden,  and  had  the  happiness  to  be  useful  to  a  great 
number  of  ladies  whose  toilets  he  saved  from  entire  ruin. 
It  was  an  act  of  gallantry  which  inspired  infinite  grati- 
tude, because  it  was  performed  in  a  manner  evincing  such 
kindness  of  heart. 


REFLECTIONS.  313 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

In  1811  and  1812.  —  Reflections. — The  Empress'  fete. — Road  from  Paris  to 
Trianon.  —  The  people  of  the  court  and  men  of  the  people  elbowing 
each  other  at  the  fetes.  — The  public  at  the  fetes.  — All  Paris  at  Ver- 
sailles.—  The  grand  walk  of  Versailles  and  the  little  saloons  of  Paris. 

—  The  rain.  —  The  lamps  and  the  women.  —  The  Empress  addresses 
gracious  words  to  the  ladies. — M.  Alissan  de  Chazet.  —  A  promenade 
of  their  Majesties  in  the  park  of  the  Petit  Trianon.  —  The  island 
of  love. — Fairyland. — Barks  manned  by  cupids. — Music  which  comes 
one  knows  not  whence. — A  Flemish  tableau  acted.  —  All  the  provinces 
of  the  Empire  represented  at  this  fete.  — Marie  Louise. —  She  said  little 
to  the  people  of  her  household.  —  Her  steward. — Among  her  intimate 
friends  she  was  good  and  gentle.  —  Her  coolness  towards  Madame  de 
Montesquieu. — "What  was  said  on  the  subject. — Coolness  between  Ma- 
dame de  Montesquieu  and  the  Duchess  of  Montebello.  —  Fear  of  a  rival. 

—  The  visits  which  the  Empress  wade  to  her.  —  Reproach  made  by 
Josephine  to  Madame  de  Montebello.  —  Concealed  discontent  of  the 
ladies  of  the  palace.  —  Josephine  and  Madame  de  Montesquieu.  —  The 
King  of  Rome  is  carried  to  Bagatelle  and  presented  to  Josephine.  —  Joy 
of  this  Princess.  —  Her  unselfishness.  —  She  bathes  the  august  infant 
with  her  tears. — What  Josephine  said  to  me  on  this  subject. — The 
nurse  of  the  King  of  Rome.  — Marie  Louise  and  her  son.  —  Marie  Louise 
and  Josephine.  —  Anecdote  of  private  life.  —  The  kiss  on  the  check 
wiped  off  with  the  handkerchief.  —  Marie  Louise's  dislike  to  heat  and 
odors. 

This  seemed  to  be  a  year  of  fetes,  and  I  dwell  upon  it 
with  pleasure  because  it  preceded  one  filled  with  misfor- 
tunes. The  years  1811  and  1812  offered  a  striking  con- 
trast to  each  other.  All  those  flowers  lavished  on  the  fites 
of  the  King  of  Rome  and  his  august  mother  covered  an 
abyss,  and  all  this  enthusiasm  was  changed  to  mourning 
a  few  months  later.  Never  were  more  brilliant  fetes  fol- 
lowed by  more  overwhelming  misfortunes.     Let  us,  then, 


314  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

dwell  a  little  longer  upon  the  rejoicings  which  preceded 
1812.  I  feel  that  I  need  to  be  fortified  before  entering 
upon  reminiscences  of  that  time  of  unprofitable  sacrifices,  of 
bloodshed  without  preserving  or  conquering,  and  of  glory 
without  result.  On  the  25th  of  August,  the  Empress's 
fete  was  celebrated  at  Trianon  ;  and  from  early  in  the  morn- 
ing the  road  from  Paris  to  Trianon  was  covered  with  an 
immense  number  of  carriages  and  people  on  foot,  the  same 
sentiment  attracting  the  court,  the  citizens,  the  people,  to 
the  delightful  place  at  which  the  fete  was  held.  All  ranks 
were  mingled,  all  went  pell-mell;  and  I  have  never  seen 
a  crowd  more  singularly  variegated,  or  which  presented  a 
more  striking  picture  of  all  conditions  of  society.  Ordi- 
narily the  multitude  at  fetes  of  tliis  kind  is  composed  of 
little  more  than  one  class  of  people  and  a  few  modest 
bourgeois  —  that  is  all ;  very  rarely  of  people  with  equi- 
pages, more  rarely  still  people  of  the  court;  but  here 
there  were  all,  and  there  was  no  one  so  low  that  he  could 
not  have  the  satisfaction  of  elbowing  a  countess  or  some 
other  noble  inhabitant  of  the  Faubourg  St.  Germain,  for 
all  Paris  seemed  to  be  at  Versailles.  That  town  so  beau- 
tiful, but  yet  so  sadly  beautiful,  which  seemed  since  the 
last  king  to  be  bereft  of  its  inhabitants,  those  broad  streets 
in  which  no  one  was  to  be  seen,  those  squares,  the  least 
of  which  could  hold  all  the  inhabitants  of  Versailles,  and 
which  could  hardly  contain  the  courtiers  of  the  Great 
King,  this  magnificent  solitude  which  we  call  Versailles, 
had  been  populated  suddenly  by  the  capital.  The  private 
houses  could  not  contain  the  crowd  which  arrived  from 
every  direction.  The  park  was  inundated  with  a  multitude 
of  promenaders  of  every  sex  and    all  ages ;   in  these  im- 


AT  TRIANON.  315 

mense  avenues  one  walked  on  foot,  one  needed  air  on  this 
vast  plateau  which  was  so  airy,  one  felt  cramped  on  this 
theater  of  a  great  public  fete,  as  at  balls  given  in  those 
little  saloons  of  Paris  built  for  about  a  dozen  persons,  and 
where  fashion  crams  together  a  hundred  and  fifty. 

Great  preparations  had  been  made  for  four  or  five  days 
in  the  delightful  gardens  of  Trianon ;  but  the  evening  before, 
the  sky  became  cloudy,  and  many  toilets  winch  had  been 
eagerly  prepared  were  prudently  laid  aside ;  but  the  next 
day  a  beautiful  blue  sky  reassured  every  one,  and  they 
set  out  for  Trianon  in  spite  of  the  recollections  of  the  storm 
which  had  dispersed  the  spectators  at  the  fete  of  Saint 
Cloud.  Nevertheless,  at  three  o'clock  a  heavy  shower  made 
every  one  fear  for  a  short  while  that  the  evening;  might 
end  badly.  "  Afternoon  shower  making  its  obeisance,"  as 
the  proverb  says ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  this  only  made  the 
fSte  pleasanter,  by  refreshing  the  scorching  air  of  August, 
and  laying  the  dust  which  was  most  disagreeable.  At  six 
o'clock  the  sun  had  reappeared,  and  the  summer  of  1811 
had  no  softer  or  more  agreeable  evening. 

All  the  outlines  of  the  architecture  of  the  Grand  Tria- 
non were  ornamented  with  lamps  of  different  colors.  In 
the  gallery  could  be  seen  six  hundred  women,  brilliant 
with  youth  and  adornments ;  and  the  Empress  addressed 
gracious  words  to  several  among  them,  and  all  were 
charmed  by  the  cordial  and  affable  manners  of  a  young 
princess  who  had  lived  in  France  only  fifteen  months. 

At  this  fete,  as  at  all  the  fetes  of  the  Empire,  there  were 
not  wanting  poets  to  sing  praises  of  those  in  whose  honor 
they  were  given.  There  was  a  play  which  had  been  com- 
posed for  the  occasion,  the  author  of  which  I  remember 


316  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

perfectly  was  M.  Alissan  de  Chazet ;  but  I  have  forgotten 
the  title.  At  the  end  of  the  piece,  the  principal  artists  of 
the  opera  executed  a  ballet  which  was  considered  very  fine. 
When  the  play  was  over,  their  Majesties  commenced  a 
promenade  in  the  park  of  the  Petit-Trianon,  the  Emperor, 
hat  in  hand,  giving  his  arm  to  the  Empress,  and  being  fol- 
lowed by  all  his  court.  They  first  visited  the  Isle  of  Love, 
and  found  all  the  enchantments  of  fairyland  and  its  il- 
lusions there  united.  The  temple,  situated  in  the  midst  of 
the  lake,  was  splendidly  illuminated,  and  the  water  reflected 
its  columns  of  fire.  A  multitude  of  beautiful  boats  fur- 
rowed this  lake,  which  seemed  on  fire,  manned  by  a 
swarm  of  Cupids,  who  appeared  to  sport  with  each  other 
in  the  lagging.  Musicians  concealed  on  board  played  melo- 
dious airs  ;  and  this  harmony,  at  once  gentle  and  mysterious, 
which  seemed  to  spring  from  the  bosom  of  the  waves,  added 
still  more  to  the  magic  of  the  picture  and  the  charms  of  the 
illusion.  To  this  spectacle  succeeded  scenes  of  another 
kind,  taken  from  rural  life,  —  a  Flemish  living  picture,  with 
its  pleasant-faced,  jolly  people,  and  its  rustic  ease;  and 
groups  of  inhabitants  from  every  province  of  France, 
giving  an  impression  that  all  parts  of  the  Empire  were 
convened  at  this  fete.  In  fine,  a  wonderful  variety  of  at- 
tractions in  turn  arrested  the  attention  of  their  Majesties. 
Arrived  at  the  saloon  of  Polhymnie,  they  were  welcomed 
by  a  charming  choir,  the  music  composed,  I  think,  by  Paer, 
and  the  words  by  the  same  M.  Alissan  de  Chazet.  At  last, 
after  a  magnificent  supper,  which  was  served  in  the  grand 
gallery,  their  Majesties  retired  at  one  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing. 

There  was  only  one  opinion  in  this  immense  assembly 


MADAME  DE  MONTESQUIEU.  317 

as  to  the  grace  and  perfect  dignity  of  Marie  Louise.  This 
young  princess  was  really  charming,  but  with  peculiarities 
rather  than  traits  of  character.  I  recall  some  occurrences 
in  her  domestic  life  which  will  not  be  without  interest  to 
the  reader. 

Marie  Louise  talked  but  little  with  the  people  of  her 
household;  but  whether  this  arose  from  a  habit  brought 
with  her  from  the  Austrian  court,  whether  she  feared  ta 
compromise  her  dignity  by  her  foreign  accent  before  per- 
sons of  inferior  condition,  or  whether  it  arose  from  timid- 
ity or  indifference,  few  of  these  persons  could  remember 
a  word  she  had  uttered.  I  have  heard  her  steward  say 
that  in  three  years   she  spoke  to   him  only  once. 

The  ladies  of  the  household  agreed  in  saying  that  in 
private  she  was  kind  and  agreeable.  She  did  not  like 
Madame  de  Montesquieu.  This  was  wrong;  since  there 
were  no  cares,  endearments,  attentions  of  all  sorts,  which. 
Madame  de  Montesquieu  did  not  lavish  on  the  King  of 
Rome. 

The  Emperor,  however,  appreciated  highly  this  excel- 
lent lady  who  was  so  perfect  in  every  respect.  As  a  man 
he  admired  the  dignity,  perfect  propriety,  and  extreme  dis- 
cretion of  Madame  de  Montesquieu ;  and  as  a  father  he  felt 
an  infinite  gratitude  for  the  cares  she  lavished  on  his  son. 
Each  one  explained  in  his  own  way  the  coolness  which  the 
young  Empress  showed  to  this  lady ;  and  there  were  several 
reasons  assigned  for  this,  all  more  or  less  untrue,  though 
the  leisure  moments  of  the  ladies  of  the  palace  were  much 
occupied  with  it.  What  appeared  to  me  the  most  likely 
solution,  and  most  in  accordance  with  the  artless  simplicity 
of   Marie  Louise,  Avas   this:    The  Empress   had  as  lady  of 


318  RECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

honor  Madame  de  Montebello,  a  charming  woman  of  per- 
fect manners.  Now,  there  was  little  friendship  between 
Madame  de  Montesquieu  and  Madame  de  Montebello,  as 
the  latter  feared  it  is  said  to  have  a  rival  in  the  heart  of 
her  august  friend;  and,  in  fact,  Madame  de  Montesquieu 
would  have  proved  a  most  dangerous  rival  for  this  lady, 
as  she  combined  all  those  qualities  which  please  and  make 
one  beloved.  Born  of  an  illustrious  family,  she  had  re- 
ceived a  distinguished  education,  and  united  the  tone  and 
manners  of  the  best  society  with  a  solid  and  enlightened 
piety.  Never  had  calumny  dared  to  attack  her  conduct, 
which  was  as  noble  as  discreet.  I  must  admit  that  she  was 
somewhat  haughty ;  but  this  haughtiness  was  tempered  by 
such  elegant  politeness,  and  such  gracious  consideration, 
that  it  might  be  considered  simple  dignity.  She  was  atten- 
tive and  assiduous  in  her  devotion  to  the  King  of  Rome, 
and  was  entitled  to  the  deep  gratitude  of  the  Empress ;  for 
she  afterwards,  actuated  by  the  most  generous  devotion, 
tore  herself  from  her  country,  her  friends,  her  family,  to 
follow  the  fate  of  a  child  whose  every  hope  was  blasted. 
Madame  de  Montebello  was  accustomed  to  rise  late.  In 
the  morning  when  the  Emperor  was  absent,  Marie  Louise 
went  to  converse  with  her  in  her  room ;  and  in  order  not 
to  go  through  the  saloon  where  the  ladies  of  the  palace 
were  assembled,  she  entered  the  apartment  of  her  lady  of 
honor  through  a  very  dark  closet,  and  this  conduct  deeply 
wounded  the  feelings  of  the  other  ladies.  I  have  heard 
Josephine  say  that  Madame  de  Montebello  was  wrong  to 
initiate  the  young  Empress  into  the  scandalous  adventures, 
whether  true  or  false,  attributed  to  some  of  these  ladies, 
and  which  a  young,  pure,  simple  woman  like  Marie  Louise 


MADAME  DE  MONTESQUIEU.  319 

should  not  have  known ;  and  that  this  was  one  cause  of 
her  coldness  towards  the  ladies  of  her  court,  who  on  their 
side  did  not  like  her,  and  confided  their  feelings  to  their 
neighbors  and  friends. 

Josephine  tenderly  loved  Madame  de  Montesquieu,  and 
when  they  were  parted  wrote  to  her  often ;  this  corre- 
spondence lasted  till  Josephine's  death.  One  day  Madame 
de  Montesquieu  received  orders  from  the  Emperor  to  take 
the  little  king  to  Bagatelle,  where  Josephine  then  was. 
She  had  obtained  permission  to  see  this  child,  whose  birth 
had  covered  Europe  with  fetes.  It  is  well  known  how 
disinterested  Josephine's  love  for  Napoleon  wras,  and  how 
she  viewed  everything  that  could  increase  his  glory  and 
render  it  more  durable ;  and  there  entered  into  the  prayers 
she  made  for  him  since  the  burning  disgrace  of  the  divorce, 
even  the  hope  that  he  might  be  happy  in  his  private  life, 
and  that  his  new  wife  might  bear  this  child,  this  first- 
born of  his  dynasty,  to  him  whom  she  herself  could  not 
make  a  father. 

This  woman  of  angelic  goodness,  who  had  fallen  into 
a  long  swoon  on  learning  her  sentence  of  repudiation,  and 
who  since  that  fatal  day  had  dragged  out  a  sad  life  in 
the  brilliant  solitude  of  Malmaison  ;  this  devoted  wife  who 
had  shared  for  fifteen  years  the  fortunes  of  her  husband, 
and  who  had  assisted  so  powerfully  in  his  elevation,  —  was 
not  the  last  to  rejoice  at  the  birth  of  the  King  of  Rome. 
She  was  accustomed  to  say  that  the  desire  to  leave  a 
posterity,  and  to  be  represented  after  our  death  by  beings 
who  owe  their  life  and  position  to  us,  was  a  sentiment 
deeply  engraved  in  the  heart  of  man ;  that  this  desire, 
which  was  so  natural,  and  which  she  had  felt  so  deeply 


320  UECOLLECTIONS   OF  NAPOLEON. 

as  wife  and  mother,  this  desire  to  have  children  to  sur- 
vive and  continue  us  on  earth,  was  still  more  augmented 
when  we  had  a  high  destiny  to  transmit  to  them ;  that  in 
Napoleon's  peculiar  position,  as  founder  of  a  vast  empire, 
it  was  impossible  he  should  long  resist  a  sentiment  which 
is  at  the  bottom  of  every  heart,  and  which,  if  it  is  true 
that  this  sentiment  increases  in  proportion  to  the  inheri- 
tance we  leave  our  children,  no  one  could  experience  more 
fully  than  Napoleon,  for  no  one  had  yet  possessed  so 
formidable  a  power  on  the  earth ;  that  the  course  of  na- 
ture having  made  her  sterility  a  hopeless  evil,  it  was  her 
duty  to  be  the  first  to  sacrifice  the  sentiments  of  her  heart 
to  the  good  of  the  state,  and  the  personal  happiness  of 
Napoleon  —  sad  but  powerful  reasoning,  which  policy  in- 
voked in  aid  of  the  divorce,  and  of  which  tins  excellent 
princess  in  the  illusion  of  her  devotion  thought  herself 
convinced  in  the  depths  of  her  heart. 

The  royal  child  was  presented  to  her.  I  know  nothing 
in  the  world  which  could  be  more  touching  than  the  joy 
of  this  excellent  woman  at  the  sight  of  Napoleon's  son. 
She  at  first  regarded  him  with  eyes  swimming  in  tears ; 
then  she  took  him  in  her  arms,  and  pressed  him  to  her 
heart  with  a  tenderness  too  deep  for  words.  There  were 
present  no  indiscreet  witnesses  to  take  pleasure  in  indul- 
ging irreverent  curiosity,  or  observe  with  critical  irony 
the  feelings  of  Josephine,  nor  was  there  ridiculous  etiquette 
to  freeze  the  expression  of  this  tender  soul ;  it  was  a  scene 
from  private  life,  and  Josephine  entered  into  it  with  all  her 
heart.  From  the  manner  in  which  she  caressed  this  child, 
it  might  have  been  said  that  it  was  some  ordinary  child, 
and  not  a  son  of   the   Caesars,   as  flatterers  said,   not  the 


JOSEPHINE  'S  LOVE  FOB   THE  KING   OF  ROME.      321 

son  of  a  great  man,  whose  cradle  was  surrounded  with  so 
many  honors,  and  who  had  been  born  a  king.  Josephine 
bathed  him  with  her  tears,  and  said  to  him  some  of  those 
baby  words  with  which  a  mother  makes  herself  understood 
and  loved  by  her  new  born.  It  was  necessary  at  last  to 
separate  them.  The  interview  had  been  short,  but  it  had 
been  well  employed  by  the  loving  soul  of  Josephine.  In 
this  scene  one  could  judge  from  her  joy  of  the  sincerity 
of  her  sacrifice,  while  at  the  same  time  her  stifled  sighs 
testified  to  its  extent.  Madame  de  Montesquieu's  visits 
were  made  only  at  long  intervals,  which  distressed  Jose- 
phine greatly ;  but  the  child  was  growing  larger,  an  in- 
discreet word  lisped  by  him,  a  childish  remembrance,  the 
least  thing,  might  offend  Marie  Louise,  who  feared  Jose- 
phine. The  Emperor  wished  to  avoid  this  annoyance, 
which  would  have  affected  his  domestic  happiness ;  so 
he  ordered  that  the  visits  should  be  made  more  rarely, 
and  at  last  they  were  stopped.  I  have  heard  Josephine 
say  that  the  birth  of  the  King  of  Rome  repaid  her  for  all 
sacrifices,  and  surely  never  was  the  devotion  of  a  woman 
more  disinterested  or  more  complete. 

Immediately  after  his  birth  the  King  of  Rome  was 
confided  to  the  care  of  a  nurse  of  a  healthy,  robust  con- 
stitution, taken  from  among  the  people.  This  woman 
could  neither  leave  the  palace  nor  receive  a  visit  from 
any  man;  the  strictest  precautions  were  observed  in  this 
respect.  She  was  taken  out  to  ride  for  her  health  in  a 
carriage,  and  even  then  she  was  accompanied  by  several 
women. 

These  were  the  habits  of  Marie  Louise  with  her  son. 
In  the  morning  about  nine  o'clock  the  king  was  brought 


322  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  NAPOLEON. 

to  his  mother ;  she  took  him  in  her  arms  and  caressed 
him  a  few  moments,  then  returned  him  to  his  nurse,  and 
began  to  read  the  papers.  The  child  grew  tired,  and 
the  lady  in  charge  took  him  away.  At  four  o'clock  the 
mother  went  to  visit  her  son ;  that  is  to  say,  Marie  Louise 
went  down  into  the  king's  apartments,  carrying  with  her 
some  embroidery,  on  which  she  worked  at  intervals. 
Twenty  minutes  after  she  was  informed  that  M.  Isabey 
or  M.  Prudhon  had  arrived  for  the  lesson  in  painting  or 
drawing,  whereupon  the  Empress  returned  to  her  apart- 
ments. 

Thus  passed  the  first  months  which  followed  the  birth 
of  the  King  of  Rome.  In  the  intervals  between  fetes,  the 
Emperor  was  occupied  with  decrees,  reviews,  monuments, 
and  plans,  constantly  employed,  with  few  distractions,  inde- 
fatigable in  every  work,  and  still  not  seeming  to  have  any- 
thing to  occupy  his  powerful  mind,  and  happy  in  his  private 
life  with  his  young  wife,  by  whom  he  was  tenderly  beloved. 
The  Empress  led  a  very  simple  life,  which  suited  her  dispo- 
sition well.  Josephine  needed  more  excitement;  her  life 
had  been  also  more  in  the  outside  world,  more  animated, 
more  expansive  ;  though  this  did  not  prevent  her  being  very 
faithful  to  the  duties  of  her  •domestic  life,  and  very  tender 
and  loving  towards  her  husband,  whom  she  knew  how  to 
render  happy  in  her  own  way. 

One  day  Bonaparte  returned  from  a  hunt  worn  out 
with  fatigue,  and  begged  Marie  Louise  to  come  to  him. 
She  came,  and  the  Emperor  took  her  in  his  arms  and  gave 
her  a  sounding  kiss  on  the  cheek.  Marie  Louise  took  her 
handkerchief  and  wiped  her  cheek.  "Well,  Louise,  you 
are   disgusted   with  me?"  —  "No,"  replied  the  Empress, 


MARIE  LOUISE  AND   NAPOLEON.  323 

"  I  did  it  from  habit ;  I  do  the  same  with  the  King  of 
Rome."  The  Emperor  seemed  vexed.  Josephine  was  very 
different;  she  received  her  husband's  caresses  affection- 
ately, and  even  met  him  half  way.  The  Emperor  some- 
times said  to  her,  "  Louise,  sleep  in  my  room."  —  "It  is  too 
warm  there,"  replied  the  Empress.  In  fact,  she  could  not 
endure  the  heat,  and  Napoleon's  apartments  were  constantly 
warmed.  She  had  also  an  extreme  repugnance  to  odors, 
and  in  her  own  rooms  allowed  only  vinegar  or  sugar  to  be 
burnt. 


END    OF    VOLUME   TWO. 


JOHN  L.  STODDARD'S  POPULAR  PICTORIALS 


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FAMOUS  PARKS  AND  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  OF  AMERICA 

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THE  BOYS'  AND  GIRLS'  LIBRARY 


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David  Bushnell  and  His  American  Turtle.  The  first  submarine 
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A  Child  in  Florence.  Glowing  descriptions  of  the  beautiful  paint- 
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'Mandy's  Quilting  Party.  How  a  little  Vermont  girl  invited  her 
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The  Wonderful  Cookie.  A  true  story  of  a  German  King,  and  the 
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Aunt  Polly  Shedd's  Brigade.    A  story  of  Colonial  times. 

Shetland  Ponies,  with  a  description  of  the  Shetland  Isle,  the  home 
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Choosing  Abe  Lincoln  Captain.  An  interesting  account  of  how 
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Indian  Children  and  Their  Pets. 

Children  of  the  Koppenberg.  A  new  version  of  the  famous  old 
legend  of  the  "  Pied  Piper  of  Hamelin." 

Babouscka.    A  Russian  Christmas  Story. 

The  Jewelled  Tomb.  The  grandest  sepulchre  in  the  world,  built 
by  a  King  of  India. 

A  Hero.    A  tale  of  Revolutionary  times. 

Secrets  of  Success  —  By  Rev.  Francis  E.  Clare,  "  Father  of  the 
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St.  Botolph's  Town.  Many  interesting  facts  of  the  ancient  city 
which  was  our  Boston  of  to-day. 

A  Hero  in  Peace  and  War.  A  character  sketch  of  Israel  Putnam 
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THE  ART  OF  GOOD  MANNERS 

By  Shirley  Dare.  Lessons  in  regard  to  etiquette  taught  by  this  little 
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SOME  QUEER  AMERICANS 

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MR.  SWEET  POTATOES 

A  story  of  a  Chinese  Milkman, 

A  NIGHT  WITH  PAUL  BOYTON 

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with  descriptions  of  the  quaint  costumes  worn  on  this  excuision. 

MILTON'S  MULBERRY  TREE 

Near  the  College  at  Cambridge,  and  the  care  it  receives.  Also  five 
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A  QUEER  LETTER-CARRIER 

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THE  RAGAMUFFINS  AND  GENERAL  WASHINGTON 

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BUSINESS  OPENINGS  FOR  GIRLS 

By  Sallie  Jov  White.    A  pure,  earnest  talk  with  girls. 

A  BOY'S  RACE  WITH  GENERAL  GRANT 

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BOOKS  BY  THOMAS  W.  KNOX 


19710,  as  a  Juvenile  Writer,  has  held  a  prominent  place  among 
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BOYS'  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  GRANT 

Illustrated,  large,  square  nmo.  Cloth  binding.  420  pages.  This 
account  of  our  great  General  begins  with  the  arrival  of  his  ancestors  on 
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Rebellion.  The  General's  voyage  around  the  world  also  enlivens  the 
narrative.  Told  in  the  spirited  and  absorbing  way  that  Mr.  Knox  has  of 
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THE  LOST  ARMY 

A  story  illustrative  of  the  camp  and  military  life  of  the  soldiers  of  the 
Federal  Army  in  the  Civil  War. 

"  It  is  a  stirring,  well-told  narrative  of  patriotic  adventure  and  service, 
and  will  kindle  the  love  of  Country  and  Humanity  in  the  young  reader." 

—  Congregationalist. 

"It  is  full  of  stirring  incidents.'*—  San  Francisco  Chronicle. 

Cloth  bound,  with  emblematic  cover  design ;  illustrated. 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  CRANE 

The  hero  of  this  book  tells  his  adventures  on  the  sea  from  1800  to  18151 
his  experiences  with  the  pirates  ;  the  dangers  of  our  ships  during  the 
trouble  with  France  and  Tripoli ;  how  British  war  ships  overhauled  our 
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The  story  is  historically  correct  and  entertainingly  related.  Handsomely 
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A  CLOSE  SHAVE 

Or  how  Major  Flagg  won  his  bet,  and  journeyed  around  the  world  in 
seventy  days.  Modern  aids  to  travel  and  communication  ,  valuable  scien- 
tific discoveries  and  inventions  brought  to  the  readers  attention  in  an 
attractive  form.  The  routes,  time  tables,  monsoons,  etc.,  described  in 
"A  Close  Shave"  may  be  relied  upon  as  being  absolutely  correct.  An 
excellent  description  of  the  country  between  New  York  and  San  Fran- 
cisco ,  a  train  robbery  with  one  of  the  notorious  Jesse  James  gang  as  a 
leader;  an  exciting  experience  with  a  school  of  whales;  a  typhoon  and 
the  wreck  ;  the  story  about  monsoons  ;  Chinese  and  Malay  pirates  ;  a  train 
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readers.    Cloth  bound.    Special  cover  design.    Illustrated. 

THE  TALKING  HANDKERCHIEF 

Under  this  title,  Colonel  Knox,  that  inveterate  globe-trotter  and  writer 
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Date  Due 

•kftY     2 

5' 

J  1    V 

APR 

j  X.    1 

W  MAR! 

31981 

Library  Bureat, 

Cat.  No.   1137 

ucsouTHEliiii«S 


AA 


001356  998 


3   1210  00301    2034